Subject: The Watermelon Woman
From: Malcolm Lawrence (Malcolm@wolfenet.com)
Date: Wed Feb 26 1997 - 03:33:36 GMT
Please participate in the grass-roots distribution of
"The Watermelon Woman," directed by Cheryl Dunye, by
1) coming to see the movie when it is in a theater near you
2) passing on this message by email, or your own voice, to others
Our movie will enjoy a limited release by First Run Features to 8 art
theaters around the country. If lots of folks come out the first week,
many of these theaters will extend the run. The mainstream industry
believes there is not an audience for an intelligent and funny black
lesbian feature. YOU ARE THAT AUDIENCE. Let them know that we exist, and
enjoy the film...
New York City: The Film Forum: March 5-19
Los Angeles: The NuArt: March 28-April 3
New Orleans: Zeitgeist: April 18-27
Boston: Brattle Theatre: May 9-15
San Diego: Ken Thetre: June 13-19
Also San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Ithaca, Buffalo, Houston
and others (dates and theaters tba)
"The Watermelon Woman" is an independent feature film set in present day
Philadelphia. It is the story of Cheryl, a twentysomething black lesbian
(Cheryl Dunye), struggling to make a documentary about a beautiful and
elusive 1930s film actress, popularly known as the "Watermelon Woman."
As Cheryl uncovers the meanings of the Watermelon Woman's life, she
experiences a total upheaval in her personal life. She falls in love
with a white woman (Guin Turner from "Go Fish"), and banters about race
and desire with her best friend Tamara (Valarie Walker). At the film's
close, the Watermelon Woman is clearly a metaphor for Cheryl's search
for identity, community and love. Make sure to watch for other notable
figures from the "lavendar and black limelight" who appear in the film:
singer/song writer, Toshi Reagon; poet, Cheryl Clarke; novelist, Sarah
Schulma;, performace artist, Brian Freeman; and cultural critic, Camille
Paglia.
The Watermelon Woman has won the Teddy Bear for best gay and lesbian
festure at the 1996 Berlin Film Festival. Audience Awards at the Creteil
Women's Film Festival, the Torino Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, The Los
Angeles Outfest, and the Teipei International Film Festival. It has also
been the hotly debated "poster child" in the right wing's routine yearly
attempts to defund the NEA (the film received $30,500 in NEA funding in
1995). In this case because one reviewer said the film included the
year's "hottest lesbian love scene." The film also includes 82
photographs from the "life" of the film's fictional lead character made
in collaboration with well-known lesbian photographer, Zoe Leonard, and
represented by the Paula Cooper Gallery in New York. The 82 photos and
the film itself will appear in this year's Whitney Biennial in NYC,
opening March 20th.
For Booking contact:
First Run Features
212.243.0600
Press:
Kahn and Jacobs
212-647-1850
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