THE WATERMELON WOMAN
2 p.m. April 18

The wry, incisive debut feature by Cheryl Dunye gave cinema something bracingly new and groundbreaking: a vibrant representation of Black lesbian identity by a Black lesbian filmmaker. Dunye stars as Cheryl, a video-store clerk and aspiring director whose interest in forgotten Black actresses leads her to investigate an obscure 1930s performer known as the Watermelon Woman. Comedy/Drama, 1996, 1h 25m, NR

The screening will be held in Theater 1, RFC’s 124-seat capacity theater, followed by a discussion with local filmmakers Tanesha Morris and Medu$a Jielle, led by Kristi Woodard.