Recently restored and re-released, The Watermelon Woman tells the story of Cheryl (played by Dunye), a black lesbian in her twenties, as she searches for love, identity, and community and invents her own Hollywood history. The self-reflexive format blazed a trail for artists like Mindy Kaling and Issa Rae, who also write, direct and perform as central characters. 1996, DCP, 90 min.
The Watermelon Woman
Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman, 1996. Photo courtesy First Run Features.