Dir. Bridgett M. Davis
1996, USA, 87 min
Rated 18A
Celebrated as a key film in the canon of Black independent cinema of the 1990s, Bridgett M. Davis’ Naked Acts was included in the seminal anthology “The 50 Most Influential Black Films” by S. Torriano Berry.
Beautiful aspiring actor Cicely (Jake-ann Jones) has just landed her first major role, but there’s a big problem: it requires a nude scene. Her mother was a Blaxploitation star known for her sex appeal, while Cicely is a survivor of sexual assault with life-long body image issues, all of which has left her with a strong aversion to disrobing in public. Now, with the support of her boyfriend Joel (Ron Cephas Jones), she attempts to get past her fear.
Naked Acts has been digitally restored and remastered by Lightbox Film Center in collaboration with Milestone Films. This 2023 restoration is from the 16mm a/b rolls preserved at the Indiana University Black Film Center & Archive. Restoration and release with creative consultation by Maya Cade, creator of the Black Film Archive.
“I’m really taken by this gem of a film — its crystalline character psychology, its interest in the power and hold of images, how it traces the contours of desire/conflicts with our own bodies/maternal failure/artistic yearnings with an assured care.” – Angelica Jade Bastién, Letterboxd
“A rewarding and invigorating find” – Nicole Keeter, Time Out New York
