In the 1996 film The Watermelon Woman, a young, Black, lesbian filmmaker goes on a journey to learn more about the Watermelon Woman, the pseudonym for a Black actress who played “mammy” stereotyped characters in the 1940s. Cheryl Dunye, who plays the homonymous main character and directs the film, takes us on a journey through both the (fictional) life of the Watermelon Woman and the character’s personal life while filming. Cheryl eventually learns that the Watermelon Woman was a lesbian named Faye, and from there she tracks her personal and professional life through various archives.
The Watermelon Woman was first released 30 years ago, but it remains one of the best lesbian movies of all time for a reason. The film’s confident portrayal of Black lesbian women sets it apart not just from other 90s movies, but most of the films since then. In honor of the 30 year milestone, I’m taking the time to talk about why Dunye’s film is still just as important as ever.
A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.
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