The Watermelon Woman (1996)

Director:

Cheryl Dunye

Writer:

Cheryl Dunye

Release Date:

5 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Cheryl is young, Black, and lesbian, working in Philadelphia with her best friend Tamara and consumed...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Fake Documentary | Nudity | Interracial | Video Store

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Cheryl Dunye	...	Cheryl
Guinevere Turner	...	Diana
Valarie Walker	...	Tamara
Lisa Marie Bronson	...	Fae 'The Watermelon Woman' Richards
Cheryl Clarke	...	June Walker
Irene Dunye	...	Herself
Brian Freeman	...	Lee Edwards
Camille Paglia	...	Herself
Sarah Schulman	...	CLIT Archivist
V.S. Brodie	...	Karaoke Singer
Shelley Olivier	...	Annie Heath
Toshi Reagon	...	Street Magician
Emmy Collins	...	Video Browser
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mickey Goldhaber	...	Featured
K. Brent Hill	...	J.J. Liberty
Alexandra Juhasz	...	Martha Page
Gail Lloyd	...	Diana's Black Date
Christopher Mann	...	Himself
Kat Robertson	...	Yvette
Ryan McCabe	...	Video Browser (uncredited)

Directed by
Cheryl Dunye

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Cheryl Dunye

Produced by
Alexandra Juhasz	....	producer
Barry Swimar	....	producer
Cate Wilson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Paul Shapiro

Cinematography by
Michelle Crenshaw

Film Editing by
Cheryl Dunye

Casting by
Mike Lemon
Gail Lloyd

Makeup Department
Kat Robertson	....	key makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael LaCorte	....	second second assistant director
Elenie Mansalis	....	second assistant director
Rick Walls	....	additional assistant director

Art Department
Sharon Potts	....	props

Sound Department
Tom Jucarone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dave Rainey	....	boom operator

Music Department
Bill Coleman	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Tim Downs	....	location manager
Benjamin Goldberg	....	production coordinator
Missy Moyer	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Dancing Girl

Distributors

• First Run Features (1997) (USA)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Dancing Girl

Trivia:

According to writer/director Cheryl Dunye, much about the character she plays in the film is autobiographical, but the historical references to the Watermelon Woman are fictional: "The Watermelon Woman came from the real lack of any information about the lesbian and film history of African-American women. Since it wasn't happening, I invented it."

Quotes:

Cheryl:Hey! Hey, you're Martin Pumphrey!
Street Magician:No ma'am, I'm a magician.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)

obsession - super sweet!

There are themes and issues in this film that are obvious, but well defined and used - lesbianism, racism, interracial relationships.... and the ups and downs of working in a video rental shop. All that aside, I have to say that, for me "The Watermelon Woman" is all about obsession. Ah - obsession! The obsession in this case is our leading lady's obsession with a marginal black actress in black & white movies of days long gone by, credited in the films on as "The Watermelon Woman." Who was she... what was her real name... why was she someone to obsess upon? Our lovely leading lesbian begins a journey of body and mind to find the truth of the Watermelon Woman and her life. I tell you obsession is a wondrous thing... when you find something (or, if you're me, many things) to obsess on, your life will be filed with the richness of discovery.. and you'll never be a boring party guest. So, have a look at "The Watermelon Woman," who knows you may just find yourself obsessed. Super sweet.