NAKED STATES
Directed by: Arlene Donnelly.
Produced by: Jennifer Donnelly, Donnelly, David Nelson, & Dan Partland.
Director of Photography: Brett Albright, Donnelly, Dave Linstrom, Peter Rieveschl.
Edited by: Tom Donahue.
Music by: Chris Hajian & Leigh Roberts.
Released by: Docurama.
Country of Origin USA. 80 min. Rated: R.
With: Spencer Tunick.
DVD Features: Artist Photos. Bios. Scene Selection. Short film: Strawberry Fields.

Confident, self-promoting photographer Spencer Tunick hits the road across America searching for volunteers of all ages and types to pose nude, often in public, for his ironic, humorous, post-apocalyptic photos. What begins as a portrait of an up-and-coming artist becomes a fascinating and revealing look on American subcultures, or as one of models describes them, “the international Bohemian Tribe.” Even in Fargo, ND, models are easily found. At a Midwest biker rally, a young woman gasps, amazed and grateful for the photo opportunity, while a “Boy in the Hood” Klan T-shirt hangs in the background. A nudist association is more than willing to participate, but their unwillingness to be directed causes Tunick to vow, “I’ll never become a nudist after this experience.” His encounters sometimes seem too strange to be true. Although the idea of dozens of men and women baring all may at first seem titillating, the nudity becomes perfunctory and asexual.

The highlight of the DVD extras is a short film of a chaotic, fast-paced photo shoot in Central Park, which captures the infectious spirit of excitement and camaraderie as dozens of strangers strip together in a cold September morning.KT
June 24, 2003