Oh Dem Watermelons
Commissioned by the San Francisco Mime Troupe as a short to be screened during intermission for its rather infamous 1965 Minstrel Show (Civil Rights from the Cracker Barrel), which assaulted racial stereotypes by wildly exaggerating them. Scored by Steve Reich. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2007.
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📋 Film Details
| Year | 1965 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Genre | Music |
| Director | Robert Nelson |
| Runtime | 12 min. |
| Rating | TMDB: 5.9/10 (12 votes) |
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🎬 MovieFinder's Take
The film constructs a provocative visual essay, relying on surreal imagery and Steve Reich's driving score to dismantle racial caricatures through absurdist exaggeration. It explores the power of repetition and symbol, turning a simple fruit into a complex site of cultural tension.
What lingers after the final frame is the unsettling energy of satire that feels both of its time and painfully contemporary. A brief, potent shock to the system that refuses to be easily digested — MovieFinder Editorial
Director: Robert Nelson
Best Watched
Best experienced in a midnight screening, fully immersed in its rhythmic, confrontational flow.
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