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 (Tuesday 13th May)

18:00

The Ugly Stepsister 18
£6 for Members
1h 45m | Norwegian w/ English subtitles
In a fairy-tale kingdom, Elvira’s jealousy drives her to horrifying extremes. This bold Cinderella reimagining fuses dark folklore with unsettling body horror, exposing the ruthless pressures of beauty in a grotesque, feminist fairytale.

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20:30

April 15
£6 for Members
2h 14m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
A Georgian obstetrician’s life unravels when she’s accused of malpractice. Dea Kulumbegashvili’s gripping drama examines autonomy, gender, and power in an isolated community, delivering a poignant exploration of one woman’s fight for justice.

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 14th May)

15:00

April 15
2h 14m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
A Georgian obstetrician’s life unravels when she’s accused of malpractice. Dea Kulumbegashvili’s gripping drama examines autonomy, gender, and power in an isolated community, delivering a poignant exploration of one woman’s fight for justice.

Book here

18:00

Bogancloch Cert-TBC
1h 26m
Set in the Scottish Highlands, Bogancloch is a poetic 16mm portrait of hermit Jake Williams. A dreamlike meditation on solitude, nature, and music followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Ben Rivers at this special preview screening.

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20:45

Sinners 15
2h 18m
Twin brothers seek a fresh start in their 1930s Southern hometown but uncover an evil lurking beneath the surface. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan reunite for this chilling supernatural thriller set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow-era South.

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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!