The Watermelon Woman15

Directed by Cheryl Dunye | USA | 1996 | 1h 25m | Starring Cheryl Dunye, Guinevere Turner, Valarie Walker, Lisa Marie Bronson, Cheryl Clarke

In 1990s Philadelphia, a young black lesbian filmmaker begins making a documentary about Fae Richards, an obscure black actress from the 1930s known as “the watermelon woman.” As she delves into Fae’s story, surprising and resonant parallels to her own life began to emerge. Balancing breezy rom-com with a serious inquiry into the history of Black and queer women in Hollywood, Cheryl Dunye gave cinema something bracingly new and groundbreaking: a vibrant representation of Black lesbian identity by a Black lesbian filmmaker.

Reviews

‘Dunye’s smart and poignant twisting of history makes the film a timeless statement.’
★★★★
Calum Baker, Radio Times

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We showed The Watermelon Woman between March 11, 2024 and March 14, 2024.

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What else is on?

Today (Saturday 29th November)

15:30

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

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18:00

The Voice of Hind Rajab Cert-TBC
1h 30m | Arabic w/ English subtitles
A girl trapped under Israeli fire reaches Red Crescent volunteers who battle impossible rescue protocols to save her. Kaouther Ben Hania’s harrowing docu-fiction hybrid confronts audiences with children’s suffering in Gaza, earning the Silver Lion and representing Tunisia at the Oscars.

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20:15

Die My Love 15
1h 59m
Grace pursues her writing dream in a remote country house with partner Jackson, but motherhood’s isolation fractures her reality. Jennifer Lawrence delivers a mesmerising performance in Lynne Ramsay’s (We Need to Talk About Kevin) visceral, uncompromising portrait of a woman’s psychological unravelling.

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Tomorrow (Sunday 30th November)

12:30

The Pirates! Band of Misfits U
1h 28m
A spirited pirate captain and his quirky crew sail the seas, dreaming of winning Pirate of the Year. After failed adventures, they meet scientist Charles Darwin and embark on a hilarious journey of friendship. Kino Kids Cinema Club screening, £7 tickets for adults and £5 for children.

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15:00

I, the Worst of All 15
+ Intro
1h 47m | Spanish w/ English subtitles
In 17th-century Mexico, brilliant nun-poet Sor Juana defies patriarchal rule and religious persecution. María Luisa Bemberg’s luminous masterpiece, newly restored, depicts a woman’s fight for intellect and autonomy amid the oppressive forces of the Inquisition.

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17:30

Anemone 15
2h 6m
A former soldier in Northern England reunites with his estranged brother, reopening wounds from a violent, shadowed past. Daniel Day-Lewis returns in a gripping, emotionally charged family drama exploring trauma and the inescapable legacies of political and personal violence.

Book here

20:15

The Choral 12A
1h 53m
As World War I decimates membership of a Yorkshire choir, a group of teenagers and the gifted yet scandalous Dr. Guthrie step in. Ralph Fiennes anchors this poignant wartime drama written by Alan Bennett, celebrating community and music amid profound loss.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!