The Watermelon Woman (Cheryl Dunye, 1997; 90 Minutes)

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MALS 5800 Contemporary Cinema Studies/Bonner The Watermelon Woman (Cheryl Dunye, 1997; 90 minutes) Writer: Cheryl Dunye Editor: Annie Taylor Producers: Barry Simar, Alexandra Juhasz Original score: Paul Shapiro Cinematography: Michelle Crenshaw Abstract (from box cover): Set in Philadelphia, The Watermelon Woman is the story of Cheryl, a twenty-something black lesbian struggling to make a documentary about Fae Richards, a beautiful and elusive 1930s black film actress, popularly know as "The Watermelon Woman." While uncovering the meaning of the Watermelon Woman's life, Cheryl experiences a total upheaval in her own personal life. Her love affair with Diana, a beautiful white woman, and her interactions with the gay and black communities are subject to the comic yet biting criticism of her best friend Tamara. Meanwhile, each answer Cheryl discovers about the Watermelon Woman evokes a flurry of new questions about herself and her own future. At the film’s conclusion, the Watermelon Woman is clearly a metaphor for Cheryl's search for identity, community, and love. Cast: Cheryl (Cheryl Dunye) Shirley (Cheryl Clarke) Diana (Guinevere Turner) Mrs Dunye (Irene Dunye) Tamara (Valarie Walker) Lee (Brian Freeman) Herself (Camille Paglia) Volunteer (Toshi Reaagon) Fae Richards (Lisa Marie Bronson) Volunteer (Sarah Schulman) Questions for Discussion: 1. How is Dunye using direct address here? Does it differ from its use in other films we’ve studied? And if so, how? 2. How does The Watermelon Woman combine aspects of both documentary and narrative filmmaking? Why does Dunye select these modes for her film, and what are the effects for the spectator? 3. How does The Watermelon Woman compare to other films we’ve studied? Discuss examples from the films that compare and contrast the approaches of each film—keeping in mind this week's readings regarding a female spectatorship that is inflected by gender, race, and lesbian sexuality. 4. How do you think other authors we’ve studied would approach The Watermelon Woman? Find examples from the films to support your points. 5. How do The Watermelon Woman and When Night is Falling compare as sites of lesbian spectatorship? As black female spectatorship? Find examples from the films to support your points. .

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