The Watermelon Woman (1997)
74%RT Audience Score: 53%
Awards & Nominations: 4 wins
The Watermelon Woman is a film that manages to be both a groundbreaking work of queer cinema and a charmingly irreverent comedy. Dunye’s use of documentary techniques is inventive and sophisticated, but it is her sense of humor that truly saves the film from becoming a didactic exercise. The bantering dialogue and sharp satire keep the audience engaged, while the film’s exploration of racism, homophobia, and the creation of historical narratives is both challenging and educational. Dunye’s debut is a confident and assured artistic statement that has rightfully earned its place as an era-defining work and a queer cultural touchstone.
The Watermelon Woman is a film that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. It’s a rare gem that showcases young black women claiming their space and sharing it with the rest of us. The film’s disarming refusal to take itself too seriously is a breath of fresh air, and the sharp, satirical scenes are a testament to the director’s sense of humor. Overall, The Watermelon Woman is a must-watch for anyone looking for a film that’s both fun and meaningful.
Production Company(ies)
Greenwich Film Productions,
Distributor
First Run
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Unrated
Year of Release
1997
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 21m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 5, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 9, 2000
Genre(s)
Comedy/LGBTQ+
Keyword(s)
starring Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson, Toshi Reagon, Camille Paglia, directed by Cheryl Dunye, written by Cheryl Dunye, Comedy, Lgbtq+, box office gross, $1.5K, reviewed by Ryan Gilbey, Achy Obejas, Rosalind Bentley, Anne Billson, Todd Anthony, Dave Kehr, Mattie Lucas, Sheila Reid, r erica doyle, Judith M Redding, Anne Stockwell, MPAA rating, First Run, Barry Swimar, filmmaker, black actress, Watermelon Woman, Hollywood films, race films, lost world, positive role models, negative role models, interviews, reality, Italian flag, karaoke, blind date, Philadelphia, videographers, video store, aspirations, history, race, sexuality, stereotypes, parallel, fictional present, fictional history, themes
Worldwide gross: $1,989
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,708
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,151
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 404
US/Canada gross: $1,989
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,708
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,833
US/Canada opening weekend: $774
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,443
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,855
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $300,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $559,224
Production budget ranking: 2,109
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $301,142
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$856,659
ROI to date (est.): -100%
ROI ranking: 2,022
Guinevere Turner – Diana
Valarie Walker – Tamara
Lisa Marie Bronson – Fae “The Watermelon Woman” Richards
Toshi Reagon – Street Magician
Camille Paglia – Self
Director(s)
Cheryl Dunye
Writer(s)
Cheryl Dunye
Producer(s)
Barry Swimar
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
4 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (58) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (5)
Sadly, it intrigues only through its inventive manipulation of documentary techniques — which is to say that what the form promises, the content falls far short of delivering.
January 22, 2022
Ryan Gilbey
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The Watermelon Woman is quite smart, remarkably sophisticated filmmaking for a first-time director.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Achy Obejas
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It gives us something we don’t see much of in film — young black women claiming their space and sharing it with the rest of us.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 3/5
Rosalind Bentley
Minneapolis Star Tribune
TOP CRITIC
It also turns out to be quite likeable, helped by a disarming refusal to take itself or its milieu too seriously.
January 22, 2022
Anne Billson
Daily Telegraph (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It could have become a deadly earnest exercise. But Dunye combats didacticism with wit and irreverence (Camille Paglia even has a self-parodying cameo).
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Todd Anthony
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Dunye’s salvation is her sense of humor. She’s good at creating light, bantering dialogue, and there are a couple of sharp, satirical scenes.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Dave Kehr
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
An era-defining work, and an oft-overlooked queer cultural touchstone that feels somehow warmhearted and urgent – as confident and assured an artistic statement as any directorial debut you’re likely to find.
June 30, 2022
Mattie Lucas
From the Front Row
In one fell swoop, Dunye has managed to entertain, educate, and make a political statement.
May 31, 2022
Sheila Reid
Women in the Life
Watermelon Woman is about the images people create and/or allow others to create, and what these images tell future generations seeking to find a history. It is also about the obstacles facing black Lesbian artists of any generation.
May 23, 2022
r. erica doyle
Washington Blade
A challenging look at racism and homophobia in both the Thirties and the Nineties.
May 23, 2022
Judith M. Redding
Curve
With a formal art background and a string of experimental videos to her credit, Dunye has a passion for ideas.
April 5, 2022
Anne Stockwell
The Advocate
Dunye’s paper-thin narrative isn’t enough to fill 79 minutes.
January 22, 2022 | Rating: 2/4
Sean P. Means
Salt Lake Tribune…
Plot
An aspiring black lesbian filmmaker researches an obscure 1940s black actress billed as the Watermelon Woman.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a cameo by controversial feminist author Camille Paglia.
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