I’m back with FIVE shorts that you can watch right now, for free! This one leans more into art than the others, and while I didn’t plan it that way, I’m glad that that’s how it worked out. 🚀
Naturally (2002)
Directed by Christophe Le Masne
No English subtitles for this French one, I’m afraid. There are Russian subs, which I personally also cannot read, but don’t let that stop you from watching! This one is about a middle-aged couple who share a vacation home with a younger group of friends who practice nudism. The wife, Sandra, is especially made uncomfortable by this, but learns to be more accepting of herself and her own body during their stay. It’s quite cute!
Root Five Nude (1976
Directed by Derek Bailey
A TV documentary following the painter Euan Uglow as he works on the titular painting with a nude model in his studio over the course of several months. It’s wild to see how slow he works, especially given how deceptively simplistic his paintings look. Everything is meticulously marked and measured. Another painting of his, the Diagonal, is shown in progress and it’s mentioned that the model for that had been coming to pose for over a year! Considering how social media has altered things to where artists are now expected to crank out new work at a factory level, the pressures to be constantly productive and always posting, I’d rather go for a slower, more methodical approach like this myself.
Textiles (2001)
Directed by Jérôme Brière
Surrealism is one of the most striking and original art movements of the 20th century, born from the Dada movement and inspired predominantly by Freudian dream logic. People tend to use it as an excuse for nonsensical work all the time, and this feels similar to that, as we watch a nude couple walk along the beach discussing surrealism. It feels like something I might have made up in college, and Michel here really reminds me of people I spent time with back then. What do you think?
Best Day Ever (2017)
Directed by the Nix Brothers
There’s something super notable about this one, as it was co-directed by our very own Evan Nicks (Nix), founder of Planet Nude! And he made this years before getting into nudism himself! Have you ever foreshadowed your own life like this? Weirdly, I know I have. But anyways: a man wakes up to find that work has been canceled, so he goes and spends his day frolicking alone on the beach, deciding to undress when no one is around…or so he suspects. The ending punchline to this made me laugh so hard.
The Galaxy (1973)
Directed by Sabin Bălașa
Surrealism returns with this strange, gorgeous animated short by Romanian painter and animator Sabin Bălașa. This film follows the unfolding of life, as a child is born from star stuff and grows into a man, encountering nature. It’s humanity’s history as cosmic mythmaking and pure visual storytelling!
What do you think? Which one was your favorite?
Oh I would SO like to have an English translation of Naturally. I watched it but I know it would be so much better if we understood what they were saying. I tried to cut and paste the transcript but YouTube wouldn't let me. Not sure why as I have done that with wheresome other videos in the past.
Naturellement (2002) seems so interesting. I really wish we could find a version with English subs.