| _Educating Julie_ is a one-hour video which provides an introduction to
naturism through the experiences of a newcomer.
Synopsis
--------
Julie is a shy college student who is assigned a summer mini-thesis
project on "Nudity in the 80s". She is horrified -- "What will my
parents think?" while her boyfriend Steve looks forward to the
opportunity for doing lots of research in dirty magazines and strip
joints. However, while disgustedly perusing the pornography that she
has purchased, Julie stumbles across a naturist magazine. This is
different, at least; and the next weekend, she and Steve are off to a
local naturist club for a visit.
Julie has no problems undressing and fitting in at the club, while
Steve is mortified, and retreats to his research in the strip joints.
Meanwhile, Julie is intrigued, so she visits another club, and then
gets the opportunity to visit Cap d'Agde in France for a week. By this
time, of course, Julie is becoming a naturist herself, while Steve
grumbles a lot. Finally, after a fit of drunken jealousy, he decides
that "If you can't beat them, join them" (he's going to have to give up
either his clothes or his girlfriend). He surprises Julie at the
naturist club with a pair of tickets to Paradise Lakes in Florida. They
have a wonderful time, Steve learns that naturism isn't so bad after
all, and the video ends with Julie presenting to her class, not a
paper, but the video she's made on naturism...
As a Movie
----------
Educating Julie isn't a Hollywood production, but it's quite competent.
The acting is adequate, if not inspired, and the photography is generally
good enough to be unobtrusive (although the director lapses a few times
into using photographic gimmickry apparently for its own sake). The
characters seem pleasant enough, and the characters and plot are
generally believable.
This certainly won't go on anyone's list of great movies, but it isn't a
chore to watch, either. Give it a C+.
As Naturism
-----------
As naturism, Educating Julie is excellent. The presentation of the
joys of naturism is very good, if a trifle idealized. There are good
extended photographic sequences at Cap d'Agde, Paradise Lakes, and the
local clubs, and there's a bit of "history of naturism" thrown in.
There isn't even a trace of exploitation or objectionable material in
this film. (I'd rate it G or PG.) Julie is a very ordinary-looking
woman -- attractive, but not even remotely the centerfold sort. In
fact, part of the visual message of the film (I don't know if it's put
into words, but it's certainly there in the pictures) is that naturism
is for everybody. There's no hint that it's only for beautiful people.
Summary
-------
If you're interested in naturism but you've never tried it, watching a
film like this is probably an excellent way to get a sense of what
naturism is like. If you're an experienced naturist, you might enjoy
watching it, but you won't learn a lot from it. You might want to loan
it (or show it) to your friends, though, to let them know what naturism
is about.
Miscellaneous
-------------
I don't have ordering information with me, but I believe that the cost
is $70. Educating Julie is distributed by Heritage Home Video in
England: I think you can order it through The Naturist Society, but it
may still have to be shipped from England. (I'll try and find details
and post them later.)
I'm happy to loan my copy to anyone who has a Beta VCR and is able to
come by my office in SpitBrook to pick it up. Just send me mail so I
can bring it in for you.
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| Thanks to a conference reader, I now have a VHS copy of _Educating Julie_
(described in .1). As with the Beta copy, I'll be happy to loan it to anyone
who can come by my cubicle in ZKO to pick it up -- just send mail so I can
know to bring it in.
I also have available (on a separate tape in Beta, as a trailer on the
_Educating Julie_ tape in VHS) a ten-minute segment about Cedar Waters
Village nudist park in Lee, NH, from _New Hampshire Crossroads_, a New
Hampshire Public Television program, in the summer of 1989.
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