Search - The Watermelon Woman on DVD

B.J. W. (analogkid01) from CHICAGO, IL
Reviewed on 7/5/2025...

In 1996, filmmaker Cheryl Dunye wanted to make a documentary about black lesbian actresses and filmmakers. Sadly, she didn't find much information about the subject.

So, she made one up.

"The Watermelon Woman" is Dunye's mockumentary about Fae Richards (Lisa Marie Bronson), who she doggedly studies and digs for information over the course of the film. Dunye concocts a history in which the fictional Richards is in a relationship with an equally fictional white female director, Martha Page (Alexandra Juhasz). Dunye is inspired to seek out information about Richards after seeing a film-within-the-film, "Plantation Memories."

But despite "The Watermelon Woman" being included in US Library of Congress's National Film Registry, it's a bit of a slog to get through. The acting is stiff and amateurish, but even looking past that, the two main characters (Cheryl and her friend Tamara) are almost constantly bickering with each other. The lack of variation in tone is akin to fingernails on a chalkboard. The tension ratchets up when Cheryl starts dating a white woman, Diana (Guinevere Turner), but the relationship (we're told) fizzles out and has no bearing on the overall narrative. Most of the characters, large or small, are just...kinda jerks to each other for no good reason.

I readily acknowledge I'm not the target demographic for this film, so I may be missing the point completely. If the goal was just "representation," Dunye succeeded, but I'm not sure representation alone makes for a film worth watching, especially when the script is this clunky.

Grade: C-minus

Widening the Spectrum: Multiple Issues, Multiple Minorities

02/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a lesbian film student of color, I find inspiration in Cheryl Dunye's vision. "The Watermelon Woman" seamlessly weaves together the issues of race relations, ethnic and lesbian identity construction, and prevailing oppression in all its subtleties. Setting up the film as a pseudo-documentary of an aspiring filmmaker's research on a Black lesbian actor from the thirties counterpoints a historical context of these issues, with its modern manifestations. An excellent film from a multiple-minority perspective. The acting may call for more training, but the successful execution of the issues excuses the sometimes contrived reading of lines. The portrayal of Guin Turner's naively ignorant character (a white woman who prefers men and women of African-descent) was well written and played. The film illustrated race relations on many sides of the issue -- the relations between people of the same race and cross-racial relations. Funny, as well as socially valuable, "The Watermelon Woman" is one of those rare films that reaffirm my expectations for film: not just as a form of entertainment or art, but as a tool for social commentary."

Excellent portrayal of the artistic process...

Miss D. AwesomePants | Hoboken, NJ United States | 02/10/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This movie is the story of a woman that wishes to become a film-maker. She becomes obsessed with an actress from the 30's - and begins searching for information on her, and films a documentary in the process. Soon, the lead's love life begins paralleling the actress that she is researching.This film can be viewed on several levels... as a (lesbian) love story... a romantic comedy, if you will. It can be viewed as a story about African American women finding their place in an urban society. Or it can be viewed as a study of the creative process.The love story bored me (luckily both Cheryl Dunye and Guineviere Turner are both really hot!)... but the exploration and struggle of the artistic journeys of Cheryl was very interesting. Any film-maker, artist, photographer, etc. would enjoy this movie... and it should not be dismissed as another silly, unrealistic lesbian love story."

A Trip Out Film!

mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 07/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Film is very Creative&Eye-Opening.it Shows The World&Lives of Lesbian Women.it deals with Race,Sex&Class Issues.i happen to catch it on B.E.T Starz's&it kept my attention.it showed the flaws of The Women&everyday struggles&Battles they went thru.I wish HBO,Showtime,etc...would also show this film for a wider audience.because this Film Balance's out alot of things.it's a trip out film!"