Experience a newly restored version of Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman (1996), a groundbreaking film in queer cinema. As part of the Arthouse Classics series, this screening offers audiences a chance to revisit or discover this important work that blends humor and social commentary.
Cheryl Dunye’s wry, groundbreaking debut brought something revolutionary to cinema: a vibrant, self-representative portrait of Black lesbian identity.
Dunye stars as Cheryl, a video store clerk and aspiring filmmaker whose search for an obscure 1930s Black actress—the enigmatic “Watermelon Woman”—uncovers unexpected connections to her own life, including a new romance with a white girlfriend (Guinevere Turner).
Blending breezy romantic comedy with sharp cultural critique, The Watermelon Woman challenges Hollywood’s erasure of Black and queer women, cementing Dunye as a vital voice in American film.
Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive with support from 13th Gen, Outfest, The Andrew J. Kuehn Jr. Foundation, TIFF, First Run Features & Yves Averous.
⭐ "Joyous … full of biting humor and astute observations." – The Village Voice
⭐ "Revolutionary … a rare look at the lives of Black lesbian women." – The Spool
⭐ "Cheryl Dunye’s Black lesbian masterpiece is as revealing as ever." – The New Republic
Dir. Cheryl Dunye | 1996 | 84 min
🎟️ Valid for Punch Cards
Screens at 1pm
