2022 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Laura (Jackie van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) are a married couple struggling to keep the spark alive in their relationship. After years of marriage they have drifted apart, and the two decide that the best way to rekindle what they once had is to go on a retreat with love guru Bjorg (Jemaine Clement). Part of their week-long journey is Nude Tuesday, but before that they must endure a series of obstacles that will either lead them back to one another or further apart.
While Nude Tuesday is a wild film, the thing that stands out the most is the fact that the characters speak an entirely made-up language from beginning to end. Creating a new language for the purpose of entertainment is something that has happened in a series of significant pieces of literature and cinema throughout the course of history. Writers and directors like J.R.R. Tolkien and George Lucas, who are often considered to be near the top of their craft, have created elven and alien languages to drive their projects forward. They have developed entire languages, some more in-depth than others, that often act something like a backbone in their respective projects. Writers Julia Davis and van Beek do something similar here for Nude Tuesday. These writers, however, develop a language with a comedic element–sort of poking fun at their own invention throughout the course of the film. What seems to be derived somewhat from the Nordic languages (with possibly a bit of Māori sprinkled throughout), and driven home by comedy, is not an easy thing to create. However, there’s a fluidity present in this language, and the consistency of what is said throughout Nude Tuesday appears to be nothing short of perfect.
I would imagine that there is a certain level of uncomfortability present on most film and television sets. The reality is that you’re with a group of people with whom you might not be incredibly familiar, pretending to be something that you’re not. With that being said, however, the level of expertise present on set will ultimately determine how successful the project is and whether or not actors can overcome their reservations (assuming there are some). This is just on an average set, and not even one full of nudity. Nude Tuesday, in its final act, consists of about a dozen adults meandering fully nude, and I have to imagine that there was some level of discomfort present in these moments. Viewers are never able to see that discomfort, and the solid acting of everyone involved allows Nude Tuesday to work wonderfully in terms of the cast’s performance.
The narrative present in Nude Tuesday is a bit odd, but let’s be honest, anything named Nude Tuesday is likely to have some comedic plot points. Some things feel a little silly, maybe even out of place from time to time–but I think that this crew put most of their focus on the development of the important things (particularly the new language). The things essential to the film are developed beautifully, never missing a beat. The writers, and Director Armağan Ballantyne, appear to have a grasp of their priorities, and they make sure that the most important things shine the brightest without allowing anything to suffer too much to pull the film down. This is a talented team of filmmakers that do a wonderful job of bringing Nude Tuesday to life in a comedic and effective way.
Every once in a while trying to break down the language barrier in a film can be difficult. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand emotion properly, and sometimes that barrier even extends to the cultural differences in a film. Nude Tuesday, initially, appeared like it might be one of those films; like trying to figure out the spoken and body language of the characters would cause me (and other viewers) more trouble than it’s worth. However, Nude Tuesday feels so meticulously planned that things don’t fall between the cracks, and nearly everything makes sense to viewers. This is a testament to how vigorously this team worked on Nude Tuesday. I never feel lost, I never feel a disconnect between myself and the characters on screen, and everything flows smoothly from beginning to end as a result. If Nude Tuesday is any indicator of what the rest of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival is like, cinephiles are in for a real treat.
Directed by Armağan Ballantyn.
Written by Jackie van Beek & Julia Davis.
Starring Jackie van Beek, Damon Herriman, Jemaine Clement, Ian Zaro, Chelsie Preston Crayford, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
Comments