Tasks: Concept, Animation, Production

Topless sunbathing is not universally regarded as common for women around the world. I was curious why, so I decided to investigate.
Based on my girlfriend's experiences and the history of women and nudity in general, I have created this animated documentary.
The documentary delves into the meaning of 'equality' and seeks to understand how this difference has emerged.

I focused particularly on Dutch customs because that is where I grew up and gained my experiences on this theme.
My inspiration came from a lecturer at the university where I studied, who pointed out how holiday pictures have changed over time. In the past, it was normal not to wear a top, but now things are different.

"You always saw bare breasts in holiday pictures"

In this exploration, I investigate why this phenomenon occurs, considering surveillance cameras in public spaces, social media, and personal insecurities. What could be a solution for this?

Join me on a short journey to understand what being topless means for both women and men. I have opted for animation to make it less explicit. As I explain in the film, there are cameras everywhere, so it would be quite paradoxical if I were to go out with a camera to film this myself. In this case, animation provides more control over the narrative and how it will visually unfold. Additionally, it fosters a more open-minded perspective on the situation. This allows for precise determination of what is visible and what is not.
Ultimately, the video revolves around equality between men and women.

So, what do you think? Free and equal or confined in a bikini top?

This film has secured a place at the Limburg Film Festival, where it was selected in the category of student films for 2021. It is a short documentary that will be part of the regional film festival. This selection is a valuable recognition of the dedication and creativity invested in the production, and it provides a platform to present the short documentary to a wider audience.