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

Sorry - you missed it!

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

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 8th September)

17:45

& Sons 15
£6 for Members
2h
A reclusive novelist, convinced he's dying, summons his estranged sons and reveals a secret that draws his ex-wife back into the fold. Academy Award nominees Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton lead this darkly comedic drama, alongside George MacKay and Dominic West.

Book here

20:30

Nine to Five 15
£6 for Members
1h 49m
Fed up with their sexist boss, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton hatch a plan to take over their office, turning workplace revenge into one of the sharpest comedies of its era. Screening in memory of the late, great Dolly Parton.

Book here


Tomorrow (Wednesday 9th September)

15:00

Holy Days 12A
1h 41m
Three unconventional nuns set out across New Zealand to retrieve their convent's deeds. When a snowstorm derails their journey, they confront loss and forgiveness. Nathalie Boltt's road-trip comedy stars BAFTA winners Judy Davis and Miriam Margolyes.

Book here

19:30

& Sons 15
2h
A reclusive novelist, convinced he's dying, summons his estranged sons and reveals a secret that draws his ex-wife back into the fold. Academy Award nominees Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton lead this darkly comedic drama, alongside George MacKay and Dominic West.

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 only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!