The Watermelon Woman

Bernie Grant Arts Centre Screening Lounge
Celebrates LGBT History Month.

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre Screening Lounge is an Independent Cinema in the heart of Tottenham.

Throughout February, The Bernie Grant Arts Centre Screening Lounge will be celebrating LGBT History Month.

February is LGBT History Month National. A month dedicated to celebrating the lives, stories, contributions and achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people from around the world. With a view to celebrate BAME art and culture; BGAC will showcase the great and the good of Black Queer Cinema, which will mark the launch of our commitment to LGBT Cinema at the centre, one of a number of commitments to highlight the diversity, within diversity.

Select screenings will be accompanied by a panel and post screening discussion, to allow the audience the opportunity to explore the themes of the films and get to know the creative contributors.


20th Anniversary of The Watermelon Woman (1996)
90 min | Drama |
Cheryl is young, Black, and lesbian, working in Philadelphia with her best friend Tamara and consumed by a film project: to make a video about her search for a Black actress from Philly who appeared in films in the 30s and was known as the Watermelon Woman. Following various leads, Cheryl discovers the Watermelon Woman's stage name and real name and surmises that the actress had a long affair with Martha Page, a White woman and one of Hollywood's few female directors. As she's discovering these things, Cheryl becomes involved with Diana, who's also White. The affair strains Cheryl's friendship with Tamara. More discoveries bring Cheryl (and us, her audience) to new realizations.

Director:
Cheryl Dunye

Writer:
Cheryl Dunye

Stars:
Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker