The naked truth about 'Naked Gardens'
Documentary about Palm Beach County nudist resort gets a thumbs down from the film's main star
‘If I watched that movie, I wouldn't want to be part of that community.’
First a disclaimer: I did not remove my clothes while working on my latest story, about a documentary film about Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort in Loxahatchee.
But the filmmakers did. They took the “When in Rome…” approach and stripped down to their birthday suits while embedding themselves among the resort’s residents for six months in late 2019 and early 2020 to make Naked Gardens.
They are convinced they made an honest film. But Sunsport Gardens owner Morley Schloss says they failed.
And when it comes to Naked Gardens, Schloss has plenty of skin in the game — he’s the film’s star.
“I think it gave a very poor representation of the people in the community,’’ he told me the other day. “If I watched that movie, I wouldn't want to be part of that community.’’
If you have seen Naked Gardens at one of the limited screenings it has had, you can draw your own conclusions. My story offers details on how the movie was made, and why Morley isn’t happy with it.
READ: Filmmakers get naked at Palm Beach County nudist resort to make a revealing documentary.
(Don’t worry. While there are plenty of photos from the film, along with a trailer, you won’t have to cover your eyes much.)
UPDATES
Airbnb ban? Plans by the Lake Worth Beach City Commission to consider cracking down on short-term rental operators have been posted. As we previously reported, the commission was set to discuss the issue on May 2. But because of unrelated emergency items added to that agenda, the sort-term rental issue has been postponed until a later date. I’m also told that an attorney who specializes in vacation rentals has been retained by some property owners and has been in discussions with the city. Stay tuned…
Bye-bye Benny’s? An update on the controversial lease with Benny’s on the Beach will be presented May 2 by the city attorney, according to an updated agenda. Word is the city and Benny’s may end up reaching an agreement after all, despite owner Lee Lipton storming out of the last commission meeting and threatening to leave.