Celebrated as a key film in the canon of African-American independent cinema in the 1990s, Bridgett M. Davis’s first and only feature is a fresh, sensitive exploration of a Black actress attempting to reclaim her sexuality.
Cicely, a beautiful aspiring actor, has just landed her first major role. But there’s a 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. Combined, these issues have left her with a strong aversion to dis-robing in public. Now, with the support of her boyfriend Joel, she attempts to overcome her fear. Naked Acts is a gem of a rediscovery – a biting, witty takedown of cinematic and cultural mores.
This screening of Naked Acts will be introduced by Rógan Graham, BFI Film Programmer.
2023 restoration from original film stock preserved by Black Film Center & Archive (Indiana University).