John Cameron Mitchell's Shortbus explores the lives of several emotionally challenged characters as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex in and around a modern-day underground salon. A sex therapist who has never had an orgasm a dominatrix who is unable to connect a gay couple who are deciding whether to open up their relationship and the people who weave in and out of their lives all converge on a weekly gathering called Shortbus: a mad nexus of art music politics and polysexual carnality. Set in a post-9/11 Bush-exhausted New... York City Shortbus tells its story with sexual frankness suggesting new ways to reconcile questions of the mind pleasures of the flesh and imperatives of the heart. [show more]
Despite the steamy content, Shortbus is actually a light, indie rom-com, frequently featuring darker dramatic elements.
Set in a post 9/11 New York City it splits between Sophia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist (or relationship counsellor as she prefers to be called) who lives happily with her husband, the only problem being with her situation is that she can't seem to achieve that ever-evasive 'big-O'. Throughout the film she meets many people, gets lots of advice and tries a multitude of techniques - to hilarious consequences at times. The film begins with Sophia counselling Jamie (PJ DeBoy) and James (Paul Dawson) about making their relationship an open one, its during this session that Sophia herself cracks, spilling out her own sexually frustrated angst and marking the begging her crusade to come.
One of the major thematic elements of the film is the need from all of the characters to feel accepted and to a have real connection with people, shown by Severin's (Lindsay Beamish) self-induced isolation brought on by her ways as a dominatrix. The fears and weaknesses of the characters appear to be honest, making Shortbus completely emotionally engaging.
The music itself is certainly worth mentioning with a selection of artists from the New York indie scene, many of which I have gotten into because of the film. The finale song by Justin Bond is the perfect catharsis to the film, which really tops of the feel-good vibe. It must be pointed out that this is a feel-good film, the frequent steamy sex scenes between one up to a room full of people (sextras as they're called in the credits) should not mislead you; much like the emotional scenes the sex scenes are just as honest and pure - as soon as you become comfortable with them as a viewer you yourself can feel the openness of the film.
Shortbus absolutely has my recommendation, it's an excellent film showing the other side to the cold, hard New Yorker lifestyle. Definitely not one to watch with your parents though!
Also the DVD itself has some excellent special features with "How to Shoot Sex: A Docu-Primer" amongst other short 'making-of' features, trailers and lots of commentary from cast members. Buy this film!
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Risqué sexual politics drama about a gang of young New Yorkers Directed by John Cameron Mitchell of &39;Hedwig And The Angry Inch&39; fame &39;Shortbus&39; is an even more explicit look at the margins of sexuality Sofia (Sook Yin Lee) is a sex counselor who has never achieved orgasm Previously staid and a confirmed heterosexual she is drawn into the world of orgiastic bisexual sex parties by a gay couple Jamie and James (PJ DeBoy and Paul Dawson) whom she is treating Becoming a regular at the Shortbus parties Sofia is soon attempting frustratedly to achieve the pinnacle she seeks with a dominatrix called Severin (Lindsay Beamish) Jamie and James&39; sex life becomes complicated with the addition of a third party Ceth (Jay Brannan) The film&39;s sexual content is apparently real and not stylised in any way and there are graphic portrayals of gay and heterosexual sex throughout
Risqué sexual politics drama about a gang of young New Yorkers. Directed by John Cameron Mitchell of 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch' fame, 'Shortbus' is an even more explicit look at the margins of sexuality. Sofia (Sook Yin Lee) is a sex counselor who has never achieved orgasm. Previously staid and a confirmed heterosexual, she is drawn into the world of orgiastic bisexual sex parties by a gay couple, Jamie and James, (PJ DeBoy and Paul Dawson) whom she is treating. Becoming a regular at the Shortbus parties, Sofia is soon attempting, frustratedly, to achieve the pinnacle she seeks with a dominatrix called Severin (Lindsay Beamish). Jamie and James' sex life becomes complicated with the addition of a third party, Ceth (Jay Brannan). The film's sexual content is apparently real and not stylised in any way and there are graphic portrayals of gay and heterosexual sex throughout.
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