Product Details

• Actors: Cheryl Dunye
• Directors: Cheryl Dunye
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: FIRST RUN FEATURES
• DVD Release Date: December 9, 2008
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B001FY7BAC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,649 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dunye's delightful early short films - her 'Dunyementaries' - fuse humor, intelligence and drama in the world of urban, young black lesbians as they make their way through the murky waters of love, friendship and dating. --Outfest Los Angeles

Product Description

Vilified by conservatives in Congress, defended by major newspapers, and celebrated by audiences and festivals around the world as one of the most provocative, humorous and important filmmakers of our time, Cheryl Dunye practically invented a new form of cinema - call it the 'Dunyementary.' Using a mixture of narrative and documentary techniques, the 'Dunyementary' challenges social and cultural norms through a sharply funny and reflexive lens. Never scholarly or didactic, Dunye appreciates the value in entertaining viewers.

Her acclaimed first feature THE WATERMELON WOMAN (1996) introduced Cheryl to wider audiences, who quickly fell in love with her self depreciating and insightful wit - not to mention the great casts she assembled (including herself). But what came before this modern-day classic? Presented here for the first time on DVD are the films that started it all - the early works which gave birth to an extraordinary and original filmmaking talent. Made on miniscule budgets, they represent the first chapter of the Cheryl Dunye oeuvre.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Form of Cinema, November 27, 2008

By	Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

"The Early Works of Cheryl Dunye"

A New Form of Cinema

Amos Lassen


Cheryl Dunye has been called the "lesbian Spike Lee" because of the way she makes movies. First Run Features gives us a look at the auteur during her early stages of development. These are six early films that helped her to become the controversial filmmaker that she is. Dunye's form of cinema is known as the "Dunyementary" which mixes narrative with documentary and challenges cultural and social norms and mores by using a reflective lens and humor. Dunye is self-depreciating yet insightful and this shows in her early films.
This DVD contains six of Dunye's short films and they give us her provocative and humorous look at life.
"An Untitled Portrait" (1993) looks at the director's relationship with her brother. It is made from home movies and has a special wit.
"Greetings from Africa" (1994) has the director playing herself with humor as she ventures into the lesbian social scene.
"Vanilla Sex" made in 1992 is an experimental film dealing with a different kind of sex and affection.
"Janine" is the story of two women--one a white high school girl and the other a black lesbian.
"The Potluck and the Passion" is a narrative film from 1993 dealing with the feelings of racism and social politics as they are discussed at a lesbian potluck dinner.
Finally, "She Don't Fade" is a self-reflective look at the sexuality of a young black lesbian.
Dunye hails from Liberia but was educated in the United States at Temple University and she came into the public eye with "The Watermelon Woman" for which she won several awards. Her most recent project was "Baby's Daddy" which was shown on big screens throughout this country. She is currently teaching at her alma mater and at work on several new projects.