Muriel d’Ansembourg’s debut Truly Naked uses candid performances and careful staging to argue that real intimacy is messier and more humane than porn’s choreography
The film Truly Naked premiered at the Berlinale as a restrained, provocative drama that examines intimacy and commodification. Director Muriel d’Ansembourg frames a narrative rooted in the adult industry while avoiding sensationalist tropes. The film asks how personal connection persists when bodies are treated as spectacle.
The story centers on Lizzie, an adult performer played by Alessa Savage, and Dylan, portrayed by Andrew Howard. Dylan’s teenage son Alec, played by Caolán O’Gorman, edits and films some of their content. Alec meets Nina, played by Safiya Benaddi, and their interactions create the film’s emotional pivot.
The film was presented at the Berlinale. Screening notes and audience response took place during the festival screenings and press sessions there.
Truly Naked shifts attention from spectacle to internal life. The film examines vulnerability across professional and private roles. From a strategic