I am writing a piece on the use of nudity in cinema (as well as the wider entertainment industry - sex sells) and was hoping to include a section on shall we say 'unusual' nudity in movies (as in older or fairly unattractive people nude).
I was wondering if anyone could suggest other films that contain nudity that is not put in to titilate teens into seeing it/buying the DVD?
The only other films I can think of are Something's Gotta Give (Diane Keaton), Laurel Canyon (Frances McDormand), About Schmidt (Kathy Bates) and At Play In The Fields Of The Lord (Bates again).
I'm going to take a different stance and say that there is no such thing as "unusual nudity." In my opinion, the best use of nudity is when it naturally helps in telling the story. Even better is when the nudity doesn't stand out.
Being nude is often a normal state for different parts of a person's life. We are born nude. We shower nude. We have to bare "private areas" of our body in order to use the bathroom. And of course, we are often nude for certain types of intimacy.
In my opinion this is natural and should not be considered "odd." Babies are always born nude and mothers have to expose certain parts of themselves to give birth or breast feed. Young people/children are sometimes nude. Old people are sometimes nude. Young adults are sometimes nude. And yes, people with disabilities, little people, People who are over(and under)weight, people of color, the elderly, non-stereotypically beautiful are nude for parts of their lives.
In other countries and other cultures, there is often a MUCH different standard for what is considered "unusual."
It is natural. It is only because our society TREATS nudity in an odd, often perverted way does nudity sometimes appear "unusual."
The USA (especially certain groups within it) often has a much stricter version of what is considered indecent or vulgar. At the same time, ther groups within the USA have a much more relaxed standard.We also judge body types and characteristics much differently than much of the world. Perhaps it is NOT that nudity that is unusual, but all of our judgements about it.
Utterly useless and tedious comment, Wolf in Spirit. Thanks for contributing nothing to the discussion.
The annoying thing is; I basically agree with most of what he/she/it is saying. I think everyone probably agrees, we just don't feel the urge to whine about it. 'tis frustrating to know my views are shared by whinging morons. (I kind of feel the same way about Global Warming...)
Back on topic, I'll mention Polanski's MacBeth as a film which contained shocking uses of both 'usual' and 'unusual' nudity. (The Witches Coven is entirely nude, and mostly over the age of 70. Very effective scene. Also notable is Francesca Annis' nude mad scene... I'm sure some people would find it titilating but I think the context is certainly unusual and a little jarring)
The Piano (and Bad Lieutenant) get mention for their use of male nudity to grant the film a greater sense of realism. I'd also mention The Piano for presenting the very opposite; 'titilating' use of non-nudity, when Keitel's character first notices a small tear in Hunter's stocking.
Finally, I'm going to give a mention to Eyes Wide Shut which used very 'usual' nudity (invariably tall, slim, usually busty women) in a legitimately artistic way. (I think the use of only one type of body, in that film, really helped the formalism and dreamlike quality. In the same way as the identically graffitied mailboxes on every street and the consistantly gaudy Christmas decorations in every location)