The
Watermelon Woman: 20th Anniversary Restored
Edition (1987/First Run DVD)
Picture:
C- Sound: C Extras: D Film: C+
Cheryl
Dunye is a black lesbian filmmaker who is interested in a black
actress from the 1930's know only as the 'Watermelon Woman'. Who was
she? As she researches the Watermelon Woman she confirms what she
suspected, that she was a lesbian in the Hollywood films of that
decade, but regardless of '30s to present modern day, being a lesbian
more often brought trouble than fame. We learn about her journey in
Duyne's indie classic film also entitled The Watermelon Woman
(1987).
Cheryl
and her friend Tamara works in a video store and in their off time
they make films. Cheryl becomes intrigued with that black actress
from the '30s and begins to film a documentary on her life on how
difficult it is to be black, lesbian and getting into Hollywood.
What is surprising to HER is when she starts seeing a white girl, her
own friend and the black community are also racist against her for
doing so. Even after years, the civil right era, woman's rights era,
there are people who are STILL against the who are lesbians or having
interracial relationships ...even those who spoke out for them.
This
film seems to point out the fact that everything is harder when you
are 'black', being a black woman, black actress, even a black
lesbian... it is about how both black and white families, communities
and people will try to repress, deny and erase them from history,
that their relationship ever existed. You are remembered if you are
famous, BUT if you were gay or had interracial relationship you were
forgotten, it shows that ignorance is not as same a tolerance. It is
also interesting to see her do her search for films and the facts
pre-Internet, down to a visit to a VHS video store.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is upgraded from the older
DVD, but the videotaped sections were very hard for me to watch,
though filmed parts were fine. Still, a tough sit for me, but the
lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound is fine and I'm told this looks
better than the older DVD. Extras include a bonus film: Black is
Blue, and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
