Naked Acts

Milestone Films has been instrumental in spotlighting overlooked films by African American women filmmakers with the recent restorations and releases of such films as Kathleen Collins’s Losing Ground (1982), Ayoka Chenzira’s Alma’s Rainbow (1994), and now Naked Acts (1996). Jake-ann Jones stars as Cicely, an aspiring actor whose estranged mother was a Blaxploitation icon. When she finally lands her first big role in an indie film there is a catch: the film requires a nude scene. Cicely desperately wants the part, but the demand resurfaces a great deal of childhood trauma, not the least of which is a childhood sexual assault. Set among a group of Black artists in New York City, the film provocatively explores Cicely’s family dynamics as she tries to reconcile her professional aspirations with her self-image. A Q&A with the director follows the screening. (87 mins., 4K DCP)

Please note: Naked Acts contains a scene of offscreen sexual abuse that may be troubling for some viewers. If you are in need of resources, please contact SARNCO.

IMAGE CAPTION
Naked Acts, courtesy of Milestone Films with Kino Lorber.