Naked Normandy (2018)

A French mayor has to convince his villagers to pose naked for an American photographer.

Director:

Philippe Le Guay

Writers:

Victoria Bedos (collaboration), Olivier Dazat (dialogue)

Stars:

François Cluzet, François-Xavier Demaison, Julie-Anne Roth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
François Cluzet	...	Georges Balbuzard
François-Xavier Demaison	...	Thierry Levasseur
Julie-Anne Roth	...	Valérie Levasseur
Pili Groyne	...	Chloé Levasseur
Toby Jones	...	Newman
Vincent Regan	...	Bradley
Colin Bates	...	Ross
Arthur Dupont	...	Vincent Jousselin
Daphné Dumons	...	Charlotte
Lucrèce Carmignac	...	Aurélie
Philippe Rebbot	...	Eugène
Patrick d'Assumçao	...	Maurice
Samuel Churin	...	Bezon
Grégory Gadebois	...	Roger
Lucie Muratet	...	Gisèle

Storyline

In Mêle-sur-Sarthe, a small Norman village, the agricultural crisis seriously affects the exhausted and ruined breeders, who are looking for ideas to draw attention to their dying profession. They are organizing a demonstration and a roadblock on the RN 12 near Mortagne-au-Perche. An American art photographer, Blake, who specializes in the nude, in search of the perfect place to create his next photographic work, finds himself blocked by the demonstration. During the meeting between Blake and Georges Balbuzard, peasant and mayor of the city, the latter decides to create a media buzz to help his fellow farmers: he hires him to photograph the people of the village naked, because they are professionally already bare. But the Normans are reluctant to undress, especially the village butcher Roger who knows that all men would very much like to see the naked body of his wife Gisèle, former Miss Calvados. Against the backdrop of ancestral family quarrels and generalized modesty, will modern ...

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Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | male full frontal nudity | public nudity | female full rear nudity | male full rear nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Did You Know?

Goofs

A French town the size of Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe would undoubtedly have a municipal police force, reporting directly to the Mayor. The local police would usually handle matters of order, like the repossession of a tractor. However, the only police presence seen in the film is that of the Gendarme. A national force organized under the military. Much of what the Mayor does, like tracking down a tagger, would be done by the police.

User Reviews

A poile Nearly Au poile!

I can see the rating so far is 5.5 and I'm in agreement with this - slightly above average for me. In case you don't get my title , if you've seen the movie you probably know that "a poile" means 'naked'. Poile in french is body hair (head hair is 'cheveu' ) so 'a poile' is reminiscent of English 'Birthday suit'. As for "Au poile" it means 'perfect' (to the precision of one hair) - Non related but for your information; when one make things unnecessary difficult the expression is "couper les cheveux en quatre" Split hairS (this time head hair) in four" yes usually head hair in french is pluralised! Perhaps in English it's understood 'split hair' means in thousand parts!) I did not find the 'nakedness' idea very original after "The full Monty" and by now the use of nude calendars to promote whatever group or cause. Neither did i think there was much to save the village in the given proposition so again it was a little of a loss for me But there were some funny moments. I am a fan of Francois Cluzet and enjoyed many of his movies. This one was was more pleasant than pleasing for me . On my phone I read a critic mentioning that the subtitles were missing when English was spoken. I think it's often the case and not good for my wife and I who go to see foreign movies mainly because our defective hearing ability and know we'll get subtitles. I hope one day technology will provide some kind of glasses that shows subtitles for those who need them! But as an ex dairy farmer worker I could identify with quite a few of rural and agricultural situation although I have never had issues with the Germans or the Romanians. Else there was much of it. The ending was for me a little too "watered down" and somehow quite predictable. I was a little skeptic of the glamourous reviews on the papers so was not really disappointed as I toned down my expectation.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French English

Release Date:

10 January 2018 (France)

Also Known As:

Ein Dorf zieht blank

Filming Locations:

Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe, Orne, France

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,360,820

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Films des Tournelles, SND Films, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1