Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

The Watermelon Woman

  • 19961996
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.
Play trailer4:03
3 Videos
11 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Cheryl Dunye
  • Writers
    • Cheryl Dunye(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
    • Douglas McKeown(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
  • Stars
    • Cheryl Dunye
    • Guinevere Turner
    • Valarie Walker
Top credits
  • Director
    • Cheryl Dunye
  • Writers
    • Cheryl Dunye(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
    • Douglas McKeown(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
  • Stars
    • Cheryl Dunye
    • Guinevere Turner
    • Valarie Walker
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Videos3

    Trailer
    Trailer 4:03
    Trailer
    Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ+ Film History
    Clip 5:20
    Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ+ Film History
    The Watermelon Woman: 20th Anniversary Edition
    Clip 2:43
    The Watermelon Woman: 20th Anniversary Edition

    Photos11

    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cheryl Dunye
    Cheryl Dunye
    • Cherylas Cheryl
    Guinevere Turner
    Guinevere Turner
    • Dianaas Diana
    Valarie Walker
    • Tamaraas Tamara
    Lisa Marie Bronson
    • Fae 'The Watermelon Woman' Richardsas Fae 'The Watermelon Woman' Richards
    Cheryl Clarke
    • June Walkeras June Walker
    • (as Cheryl Clark)
    Irene Dunye
    • Irene Dunyeas Irene Dunye
    Brian Freeman
    • Lee Edwardsas Lee Edwards
    Ira Jeffries
    • Shirley Hamiltonas Shirley Hamilton
    Alexandra Juhasz
    • Martha Pageas Martha Page
    Camille Paglia
    • Camille Pageas Camille Page
    Sarah Schulman
    Sarah Schulman
    • CLIT Archivistas CLIT Archivist
    V.S. Brodie
    V.S. Brodie
    • Karaoke Singeras Karaoke Singer
    Shelley Olivier
    • Annie Heathas Annie Heath
    David Rakoff
    • Librarianas Librarian
    Toshi Reagon
    • Street Musicianas Street Musician
    Christopher Ridenhour
    • Bobas Bob
    Kat Robertson
    Kat Robertson
    • Yvetteas Yvette
    • (as Kathy Robertson)
    Jocelyn Taylor
    • Staceyas Stacey
    • Director
      • Cheryl Dunye
    • Writers
      • Cheryl Dunye(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
      • Douglas McKeown(written by: film recreations, "Plantation Memories" and "Souls of Deceit")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Greetings from Africa
    7.0
    Greetings from Africa
    Daughters of the Dust
    6.6
    Daughters of the Dust
    Janine
    6.8
    Janine
    Losing Ground
    6.6
    Losing Ground
    Born in Flames
    6.5
    Born in Flames
    Pariah
    7.2
    Pariah
    Rafiki
    6.8
    Rafiki
    Tongues Untied
    7.0
    Tongues Untied
    Olivia
    6.9
    Olivia
    The Owls
    5.0
    The Owls
    Black Girl
    7.4
    Black Girl
    An Untitled Portrait
    6.3
    An Untitled Portrait

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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: I'm gonna be the one who says: I am a black lesbian filmmaker, who's just beginning; but, I'm going to say a lot more and have a lot more work to do.

    • Crazy credits
      The film, which seems to be a documentary about Cheryl's search for the obscure actress who inspired her, ends with these printed words: "Sometimes you have to create your own history. The Watermelon Woman is fiction. Cheryl Dunye, 1996"
    • Alternate versions
      In 2016, director Cheryl Dunye's landmark Black Queer Film THE WATERMELON WOMAN was re-released in select theaters and festivals with a pristine 2K HD restoration overseen by the production company 13th Gen, in partnership with Modern Videofilm. The restoration and re-release was sponsored by First Run Features, the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project, and the Toronto International Film Festival. This theatrical tour will be followed by a DVD re-release in early 2017.
    • Connections
      Featured in Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      Rondo from Eine Kleine Nacht Music
      by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)

      Courtesy of ProMusic, Inc.

    User reviews20

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Time does fly, and people do change.
    This is a very lighthearted film about a black video store clerk (Cheryl Dunye) who wants to make a documentary about an early black actress, known only as The Watermelon Woman." The fact that both Cheryl (Dunye) and the actress are lesbians keeps her going. In fact, in life imitating art, Cheryl finds that The Watermelon Woman was having a lesbian relationship with a white director, and then, she begins a relationship with a white video store customer (Guinevere Turner - American Psycho, Itty Bitty Titty Committee).

    The film explored black language, early black actresses, black lesbians, mammies, and watermelon. It even featured an interview with Camille Paglia discussing mammies and watermelon in the context of blacks and Italians, It's nice to see Italians spoken of in something other than the Mob.

    Her BFF Tamera (Valarie Walker) is a party girl, but she draws the line at interracial relationships, and that causes a problem for Cheryl.

    There are a lot of good scenes throughout the movie, and it made it worthwhile even if the acting wasn't particularly good.

    The end credits will surprise you.
    helpful•8
    6
    • lastliberal
    • Jul 25, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 5, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Женщина-арбуз
    • Filming locations
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production company
      • Dancing Girl
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $300,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,989
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $774
      • Nov 13, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,989
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Watermelon Woman (1996)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Watermelon Woman (1996) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.