Short synopsis
In NAK-ED director Jan Dalchow goes on a journey to discover why he is ashamed of his own naked body, as it seems most of us are.
He meets Edinburgh-based photographer Kenneth S. Myklebust, who with his 1000 Bodies Project lets ordinary people take their own naked selfie in a studio. Some of his subjects are shameless, others have big issues with their bodies and self image. They list many reasons for their shame: Society in general, parents, social media, being bullied as children. Most of the participants find that taking part of the art project feels liberating.
The journey continues to one of US’ most liberal cities, San Francisco. There, body activists are fighting a nudity ban proposed by city council member Scott Wiener.
In front of the protests is mother of three Gypsy Taub, who repeatedly gets arrested for protesting naked, including during city council meetings.
Christina DiEdoardo is their lawyer, and she explains how targeting small minorities like the nude activists sets a dangerous precedent.
Mr. Pam, possibly the world’s only female director of gay porn, joins the protest by creating a political porn parody of Wiener and his nudity ban.
The activists are narrowly defeated, but continue the fight. Gypsy even gets married naked on the steps of City Hall - and arrested, again.
The director’s journey is also a personal one, and he challenges his own body shame by participating in Kenneth’s art project in Edinburgh, a nude talk show in San Francisco, and volunteering as a naked extra in a dance performance back in Norway.
This documentary is sometimes absurd, often emotional, and always fascinating. Jan ends up being convinced that the repression of normal, naked bodies is harmful to all of us, and that accepting your own body is vital to your mental health.
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About the director
Jan Dalchow (b. 1968) has since 1995 produced and/or directed several award-winning documentaries. He gained the attention of both the industry, the press and the public with the LGBT documentaries “I Love Whom I Want to Love”, “Dirty, Sinful Me” and “100% Human”, and co-directed/produced the controversial short film “Precious Moments” awarded at the Berlinale and Tribeca. In producing “USA vs Al-Arian” and “Living Without Money”, he took on anti-Muslim laws and consumer culture.
Being an outsider is a common and dear theme to Dalchow, who knows what “being different” can entail.
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Specifications
Documentary title NAK-ED
Tag line Who told you that your body isn’t good enough?
Project status Masters are ready for delivery
Broadcast format/length HD 16:9 / 55 min 45 sec
Social media format/length Instagram 4:5 /10 episodes, various lengths (3–12 minutes)
(Both formats also available with burned-in subtitles)
Available versions • Censored (with genitals blurred and/or covered with black censor bars)
• Uncensored
Delivery format XDCAM
Languages spoken English (80%), Norwegian (15%), Swedish (5%)
Subtitle language English (SRT files available)
Directed by Jan Dalchow
Produced by Roger Moe (Tun Media)/Jan Dalchow (Dalchows Verden)
Edited by Eirik Munthe-Kaas
D.O.P. Frank Alvegg
Development partners Ivan Gasparini, Hilde Skofteland, Line Halvorsen, Bjørn Eivind Aarskog
and Morten Daae Ingebrethsen
Supported by Viken Filmsenter, Fritt Ord, Norwegian Film Institute, Creative Europe/MEDIA, Fond for lyd & bilde
Website nak-ed.org
Facebook facebook.com/nakededucation
Press contact contact@nak-ed.org
International sales Films Transit • filmstransit.com
Jan Rofekamp • jan@filmstransit.com
Festivals Norwegian Film Institute • nfi.no
Toril Simonsen • toril.simonsen@nfi.no
PRESS KIT is available here: https://nak-ed.org/press/
