It was weird. Honestly, when The Little Hours first hit the festival circuit back in 2017, nobody really knew how to categorize it. You had this cast full of comedy heavyweights—Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Kate Micucci—dressed as 14th-century nuns, screaming profanities and engaging in behavior that would make a medieval inquisitor’s head spin. But what really got the internet talking, and what keeps the search traffic humming years later, is the The Little Hours nude scenes and the raw, subversive way the film handles sexuality. It wasn't just about the shock value, though there was plenty of that to go around.
Jeff Baena, the director, didn't just pull this story out of thin air to be edgy. He actually based the script on The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. If you haven't read it, it's basically a 14th-century collection of novellas that are surprisingly dirty. Like, really dirty. People tend to think of the Middle Ages as this buttoned-up, hyper-religious era where everyone was miserable and covered in dirt. While the dirt part might be true, Boccaccio showed that people were still people. They had desires. They were messy. They were frequently naked.
The Reality of the Nudity in The Little Hours
Let’s be real for a second. When people search for "The Little Hours nude" moments, they’re usually looking for the specific scenes involving the lead actresses. There is a very specific sequence involving a pagan ritual in the woods that features full-frontal nudity from several cast members, including Aubrey Plaza. It’s a jarring scene. One minute you’re watching a deadpan comedy about repressed nuns, and the next, you’re thrust into a dimly lit, chaotic ritual that feels more like a 70s folk-horror movie than a modern sitcom.
It wasn't body doubles.
That’s a big sticking point for fans and critics alike. In an era where many A-list stars use "modesty garments" or digital touch-ups, the cast of The Little Hours went for total authenticity. Aubrey Plaza, who also produced the film, has been vocal in interviews about the chaotic nature of the shoot. They filmed in Tuscany. It was beautiful. It was also apparently freezing during the night shoots. Plaza mentioned to The Guardian that the production was "guerrilla-style" in many ways, which added to the frantic energy of those specific scenes.
Why the Catholic League Got Involved
You can’t make a movie about profane, sexually active nuns without someone getting upset. Bill Donohue, the president of the Catholic League, famously slammed the film before it even came out. He called it "trash" and "trashy." It’s a classic PR win for an indie movie. Nothing sells tickets quite like a religious group telling people they shouldn't watch something.
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But here’s the thing: the movie isn't actually an attack on faith. It’s an attack on repression. The The Little Hours nude scenes serve a narrative purpose. They represent the breaking point. These women are trapped in a convent not because they have a "calling," but because their fathers didn't want to pay a dowry or because they had nowhere else to go. When they finally let loose, it’s explosive. It’s supposed to feel uncomfortable and a bit wild.
The comedy comes from the juxtaposition. You have Dave Franco playing a servant who has to pretend to be deaf and mute just to hide out in the convent, only to become the object of desire for three repressed nuns. It’s absurd. It’s basically a high-brow sex farce.
Behind the Scenes of the Most Talked-About Moments
If you watch the credits, you'll see a lot of familiar names, but the budget was tiny. This wasn't a Hollywood backlot. They were in actual historical locations in Italy. That authenticity matters when you're dealing with sensitive content like nudity.
When filming the ritual scene, the atmosphere on set was reportedly focused but lighthearted. Kate Micucci and Alison Brie have both spoken about the bond the cast formed. When you’re all standing in a forest in Italy, wearing very little, you either get close or you get weird. They chose to get close. This chemistry is what makes the movie work. If the actors felt exploited or uncomfortable, the comedy would have curdled. Instead, it feels like a group of friends making something brave and slightly insane.
- Aubrey Plaza’s Role: As Fernanda, she is the catalyst for much of the rebellion. Her comfort with the darker, more physical aspects of the role set the tone for everyone else.
- Alison Brie’s Transformation: Known for Community and Mad Men, Brie plays Alessandra with a repressed rage that eventually boils over into some of the film's most intense (and naked) moments.
- The Improvisation: Baena gave the actors a treatment rather than a traditional script. Most of the dialogue was improvised. This explains why the swearing feels so modern despite the 1340s setting.
Addressing the "Exploitation" Argument
Is it exploitative? Some critics said yes. They argued that the The Little Hours nude scenes were unnecessary or designed purely for "clickbait" in the streaming age. But if you look at the source material—Boccaccio’s work—the nudity is baked into the DNA of the story. You can't tell a story about the liberation of the human spirit from the shackles of medieval dogma without showing the human body in its most natural state.
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The film sits in a weird sub-genre. It’s not quite a "sex comedy" in the vein of American Pie, but it’s certainly not a dry historical drama. It’s more like The Decameron meets Wet Hot American Summer.
Actually, the nudity is handled with a sense of "matter-of-factness" that is rare in American cinema. It’s not always sexualized. Sometimes it’s just there. It’s messy. It’s sweaty. It’s human. In the scene where the nuns are washing their clothes or lounging, there’s a sense of female camaraderie that feels genuine. It’s a rejection of the "male gaze" even though the film features nudity that traditionally appeals to it.
The Legacy of the Film in the Streaming Era
Today, The Little Hours has found a second life on streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu. It’s a "discovery" movie. People stumble upon it because of the cast, stay for the bizarre humor, and then go to the internet to verify if what they just saw was actually real.
The search for The Little Hours nude content usually leads people to deep dives into the film's production. It’s a gateway to learning about medieval literature, believe it or not. How many people would have looked up Giovanni Boccaccio if they hadn't seen Aubrey Plaza playing a foul-mouthed nun first? Probably not many.
It’s also a testament to the power of independent film. Baena managed to get a cast of massive stars to go to Italy for basically no money, get naked, and scream at each other in the woods. That doesn't happen in the studio system. It requires a specific kind of trust between a director and his actors.
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What to Keep in Mind Before Watching
If you’re planning on watching it for the first time, don't expect a standard comedy. It’s slow-paced in parts. It’s atmospheric. And yes, it’s very graphic. If you’re sensitive to religious satire, you might want to skip it. But if you appreciate the absurdist humor of Fred Armisen (who has a great cameo) or the deadpan brilliance of the lead trio, it’s a modern classic.
The film doesn't apologize for itself. It doesn't have a moralizing ending where everyone learns a lesson. It just... happens. Much like life in the 14th century, it’s chaotic, occasionally beautiful, and frequently absurd.
Actionable Insights for Viewers and Film Fans
If you want to dive deeper into the world of The Little Hours or understand the context behind its most controversial scenes, here is what you should do:
- Read the Source: Look up the Third Day, First Story of Boccaccio's The Decameron. You’ll see exactly where Baena got the plot for Masetto (Dave Franco) and the nuns. It’s eye-opening to see how little human nature has changed in 600 years.
- Watch the Interviews: Seek out the "AOL Build" or Hollywood Reporter roundtables featuring the cast. They talk extensively about the "no-script" approach and the logistical nightmares of filming the ritual scenes.
- Check the Rating: Remember this is a hard R. It’s not just for the The Little Hours nude scenes, but for language and themes that are definitely not family-friendly.
- Explore the Genre: If you liked the "modern dialogue in a period setting" vibe, check out The Favourite or Marie Antoinette. It’s a specific stylistic choice that prioritizes emotional truth over historical accuracy.
- Support Indie Film: Movies like this only get made when people support the creators. Follow Jeff Baena’s other work, like Horse Girl or Spin Me Round, to see how he continues to play with genre and audience expectations.