Naked Garden is the story of the family naturist (nudist) resort Sunsport Gardens. Located in the everglades it’s the home to a bunch of people who life the life style. We watch as the various residents live their lives and care taker Morley watch over things as the Mid-Winter Naturist Festival approaches.
Let me say right up front this is a really good film. This is good time with good people. I really enjoyed the films a great deal on its own terms.
The problem for me is that had the film not been about a naturist resort this film would not stood out. It is a story of a community of people who are going along with their lives in the way that they feel is best. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and frankly as these films go it’s one of the best I’ve run across. At the same time I’m not certain what the filmmakers felt so compelling about the story that they had to tell this story. Yes they are lovely people but I don’t see anything beyond that.
My quibble aside Naked Garden is worth a look.
Speaking as a nudist, and hoping there's a way to view this film on demand since I couldn't go to it at Tribeca I would suggest that the fact that it depicts normal people doing normal things is probably the point, given that it's so different from what many people associate nudism with. The alternative would have been to play up everything that could make nudists look weird, and the fact that they didn't do that with this film makes it a refreshing contrast from some other mainstream media depictions. Looking forward to seeing it (and I probably know some people in it).
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