Camille Paglia

(On Cable TV, June 2020) One of the most amazing things about the world of movies is there is always more to discover, even for those who think they’ve seen it all. So it is that 1996’s The Watermelon Woman is a film by and about black lesbian filmmakers, and specifically about one who gets so fascinated by a supporting player in a 1930 film (merely billed as “the watermelon woman”) that she starts tracking down that person’s life and discovers a few surprises along the way. Executed mockumentary-style, The Watermelon Girl is surprisingly convincing in taking us down Hollywood’s history, especially when it comes to black homosexual performers. Much of the film still plays remarkably well despite the low budget and low-fi visual aesthetics. I didn’t think that I had much in common with the film’s subject matter or filmmaker, but as it turns out… I have looked up unusually attractive actresses from 1930s film, and the thrill of discovering more about the person is something I strongly identified with. Writer-director Cheryl Dunye has built The Watermelon Girl in a way that the detective aspect of the story is definitely a strong narrative hook. But there’s a lot more about the film than a chase through the archives: Its depiction of a lesbian protagonist, along with her interaction with her community, still plays quite well in 2020. I didn’t expect much from the film, but it played up to my Hollywood history fascination, and still has quite a bit to say. Plus, Camille Paglia makes a borderline self-parodic appearance, so what else could we ask for?