Nude Tuesday

Laura (Jackie Van Beek) and Bruno (Damon Herriman) live on the island of Zǿbftąņ, located in the Pacific Ocean, north-west of Hawai’i. After a disastrous work presentation and anniversary dinner with their in-laws, Laura and Bruno attempt to rekindle their marriage, by heading to Ẅønđeulä, a mountainous couples retreat run by guru Bjorg Rasmussen (Jemaine Clement).

• Jackie van Beek as Laura
• Damon Herriman as Bruno
• Jemaine Clement as Bjorg Rasmussen
• Ian Zaro as Rufus
• Chelsie Preston Crayford as Julie
• Ghenoa Gela as Rakel
• Byron Coll as Finnius
• Yvette Parsons as Margaret
• Chris Bunton as Louis
• Chris Parker as Stefan
• Jodie Rimmer as Diane
• Roy Billing as Aldo

The film's script was originally developed in English. During a phone call to Ballantyne, Jackie van Beek suggested that the film be in a gibberish, to tie in to the film's theme of miscommunication.{{cite web|url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/15/bonkers-kiwi-comedy-nude-tuesday-changes-the-script/ |title=Bonkers Kiwi comedy Nude Tuesday changes the script |first=Richard |last=Martin|website=1News|date=15 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} The film was rehearsed in English based on van Beek's script, and performed in the fictional gibberish language of Zǿbftąņlik.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/movies/it-s-complete-gibberish-but-nude-tuesday-could-be-new-zealand-s-next-big-hit-20220513-p5al2e.html |title=It's complete gibberish, but Nude Tuesday could be the next hit Kiwi comedy |first=Louise |last=Rugendyke|website=Sydney Morning Herald|date=13 May 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} It was shot in two locations: Auckland and the Queenstown-Lakes District of the South Island, at the Wonderland Lodge in Makarora and Cardrona.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzfilm.co.nz/international/showcase/nude-tuesday |title=Nude Tuesday |website=NZ Film |access-date=17 June 2022}}

Zǿbftąņlik is a spontaneous language created by Wellington voice coach Perry Piercy. While not a constructed language, Piercy created phonic rules inspired by Nordic languages, as she felt that it was important that all actors in the film appeared to be speaking the same language.{{cite web|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/tv/18-06-2022/the-story-of-zobftanlik-nude-tuesdays-100-fake-scandinavian-language |title=The story of Zøbftańlik, Nude Tuesday's 100% fake Scandinavian language |first=Sam |last=Brooks|website=The Spinoff|date=18 June 2022 |access-date=19 June 2022}} Piercy developed the language alongside four of the actors of the film, using Fitzmaurice Voicework techniques, to make the actors feel comfortable improvising sounds in the new language. While most words are improvised, some words in Zǿbftąņlik have a set meaning, including "tula" (thank you) and "vilm" (please).{{cite web|url=https://letterboxd.com/journal/maximum-arousal-julia-davis-nude-tuesday/ |title=Maximum Arousal: Nude Tuesday's Gibberish Translator |first=Gemma |last=Gracewood |website=Letterboxd|date=12 June 2022 |access-date=19 June 2022}} Clement's character Bjorg Rasmussen occasionally uses English language phrases.

After the film was shot and edited, subtitles were added by British comedian Julia Davis.{{cite web|url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/04/18/kiwi-film-nude-tuesday-releases-first-look/ |title=Kiwi film Nude Tuesday releases first look |first=Richard |last=Martin|website=1News|date=18 April 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} Davis worked on the subtitles over a three-month period, having never read the original screenplay. Davis' subtitles greatly differed from Ballantyne and van Beek's original script. A different set of subtitles was created by Malaysian comedian Ronny Chieng and Australian comedian Celia Pacquola. The New Zealand and United Kingdom releases of the film feature Davis' subtitles, while most other territories use the Chieng and Pacquola version. In Australia, the Sydney Film Festival release used Davis' subtitles, while its debut on streaming services will use Chieng and Pacquola's.{{cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/arts-and-culture/how-comedy-nude-tuesday-flips-dialogue-into-the-gibberish-20220531-p5apu4 |title=How gibberish (and nudity) became a lesson on risk taking |first=David |last=Marin-Guzman|website=Australian Financial Review|date=3 June 2022 |access-date=19 June 2022}}

The film's soundtrack features cover versions of Phil Phillips' "Sea of Love", Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's "Islands in the Stream", The Zombies' "Time of the Season" and Talking Heads' "Road to Nowhere", recorded in the fictional language of Zǿbftąņlik.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stuff-to-watch/300608052/nude-tuesday-strip-away-gibberish-gimmick-and-surreal-kiwi-farce-is-underwhelming |title=Nude Tuesday: Strip away gibberish gimmick and surreal Kiwi farce is underwhelming |first=James |last=Croot|website=Stuff|date=16 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} The covers were primarily performed by Moniker, a group composed of indie rock band Phoenix Foundation members Lukasz Pawel Buda, Samuel Flynn Scott and Thomas Conrad Wedde, who had previously worked on the soundtrack for the film Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016).{{cite news|url=https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/15285/Listen-To-Monikers-Festive-Album-Merry-Krautmas.utr |title=Listen To Moniker's Festive Album 'Merry Krautmas' |website=Under the Radar|date=7 December 2018 |access-date=19 June 2022}} Jemaine Clement performs vocals on the cover of "Road to Nowhere", and a song from The Weeping Jester, a fictional album performed by his character Bjorg Rasmussen. The covers' Zǿbftąņlik lyrics were supplied by Perry Piercey.

The film debuted on 10 June 2022 at the Sydney Film Festival,{{cite web|url=https://www.sff.org.au/program/browse/nude-tuesday |title=Nude Tuesday |website=Sydney Film Festival |access-date=17 June 2022}} and online at the Tribeca Film Festival on 11 June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.liveforfilm.com/2022/06/12/review-nude-tuesday-an-experiment-that-works-mostly-because-it-requires-100-of-your-attention-throughout/ |title=Review: Nude Tuesday – "An experiment that works, mostly because it requires 100% of your attention throughout." |first=Hillary |last=Butler |website=Live for Film |date=12 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} It received a wide release in New Zealand cinemas on 16 June 2022, and in Australian cinemas on 23 June, followed by a streaming release on Stan on 7 July.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/jun/11/nude-tuesday-review-this-new-zealand-orgy-comedy-told-in-gibberish-is-delightful |title=Nude Tuesday review – this New Zealand orgy comedy told in gibberish is delightful |first=Michael |last=Sun|website=The Guardian|date=10 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}}

The film received positive reviews. {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|86|6.9|29|consensus=The story may feel a bit strained at feature length, but Nude Tuesday is an impressive experimental exercise that's also frequently funny.|ref=yes|access-date=6 February 2024}}

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Category:2022 films

Category:2022 comedy films

Category:2020s New Zealand films

Category:Stan (service) original films

Category:Fictional-language films

Category:New Zealand comedy films

Category:Films set on fictional islands

Category:Films set in Polynesia

Category:Films shot in New Zealand