The Watermelon Woman is a 1996 independent film directed by Cheryl Dunye, who also stars in the lead role. The film follows Cheryl, a young aspiring filmmaker living in Philadelphia, as she sets out to make a documentary about an obscure African American actress from the 1930s known only as the "Watermelon Woman."
As Cheryl delves deeper into her research, she becomes increasingly frustrated with the lack of information available about this mysterious actress, who was relegated to playing stereotypical roles as a domestic servant or "mammy" in the Hollywood films of her era. Along the way, Cheryl grapples with issues of sexuality, race, and identity, as she navigates her relationships with her white girlfriend, her black lesbian friends, and her own family.
The Watermelon Woman is widely regarded as an important film in the history of queer cinema, as it was one of the first feature films directed by an openly lesbian black woman. The film was also groundbreaking for its portrayal of black lesbian characters, which was still a relatively rare occurrence on screen at the time of its release. The Watermelon Woman won numerous awards at film festivals around the world, and has since become a cult classic in the queer community.