In an extraordinary career spanning seven decades, director and “godfather of black cinema” Melvin Van Peebles (1932-2021) only made one studio film.  1970’s Watermelon Man shattered conventions with its bitingly satirical story about a white couple, intolerant and obnoxious insurance salesman Jeff Gerber (Godfrey Cambridge) and his seemingly liberal wife Althea (Estelle Parsons).  One morning, Jeff awakens to discover that his skin color has changed from white to black-and it’s not a result of his daily tanning routine.  Unable to successfully change back, he learns what it’s like to live in America…