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Shortbus

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Shortbus
File:Shortbus.jpg
Directed byJohn Cameron Mitchell
Written byJohn Cameron Mitchell
Produced byHoward Gertler
John Cameron Mitchell
Tim Perell
CinematographyFrank G. DeMarco
Edited byBrian A. Kates
Music byYo La Tengo
Distributed byThinkFilm (US and Canada)
Release dates
May 20, 2006 (Cannes Film Festival)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,000,000 USD (estimated)

Shortbus is a 2006 drama film written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. It was released for widespread distribution in October of 2006, after premiering in May at the Cannes Film Festival. The film aims to 'demystify' sex by explicitly showing it on the screen in several scenes. Much of the sex in this movie, including several orgy scenes, is unsimulated. The films working title was "The Sex Film Project". The film's final script was adapted and written in collaboration with the cast of the project (as is noted in the credits of the film). Its original concept was loosely based on a series of events known as the Lusty Loft Parties that occurred at Dumba between 1999 and 2002, as well the weekly CineSalon, both of which were organized, at least in part, by Stephen Kent Jusick, who plays Creamy in the film.

The film is distributed by ThinkFilm to specialty theatres in the United States and Canada.

Plot

Template:Spoiler The movie is set in contemporary New York City and revolves around a character played by Canadian singer and radio/TV personality Sook-Yin Lee. (Lee previously appeared in a cameo in Mitchell's Hedwig and the Angry Inch). Lee plays Sofia, a married woman and couples counselor/sex therapist who has herself never achieved an orgasm. She comes into contact with gay couple Jamie (PJ DeBoy) and James (Paul Dawson); the latter, a former male prostitute, has suggested the two open up their relationship to sex with others.

During their first consultation, Sofia snaps and slaps Jamie. The couple suggests she attend a social get-together/sex party held weekly called "Shortbus", which is hosted by a transvestite (Justin Bond of Kiki & Herb). Sofia slowly opens up to new sexual ideas; this includes a friendship with a dominatrix who goes by the name Severin (but whose real name, we learn, is Jennifer Aniston - of no relation to the actress).

Sofia's inability to achieve orgasm begins to cause conflict with her husband Rob (Raphael Barker). Rob begins attending Shortbus with Sofia.

James and Jamie meet a young, gay, ex-model and aspiring singer named Ceth (Jay Brannan,) and the three begin a sexual relationship. Meanwhile James and Jamie's life is being - and has been - closely watched (for, we learn, nearly 4 years) by their across-the-street neighbour Caleb (Peter Stickles). Caleb fears the inclusion of Ceth in James and Jamie's relationship might break them up (and thus destroy his ability to live vicariously through them) so he attends Shortbus and confronts Ceth.

Sofia begins to go daily to a spa with an isolation tank to meet Severin, and the two begin to have intense conversations. Severin begins to help Sofia loosen up sexually; Sofia helps Severin achieve a deeper human connection than she had experienced before. One evening at Shortbus Severin discusses with Sofia the idea of giving up sex work to pursue her dream of being an artist. The two then have an unplanned sexual experience, where once again, Sofia is left lying unsatisfied under an orgasming person, in this case Severin.

Throughout the film we see that James has been making a film about himself. It turns out to be a suicide note, and he tries to take his life by drowning himself after ingesting sleeping pills. He is rescued by Caleb, who calls for help but is too embarrassed to wait with James for the help to arrive, so he writes his phone number across James's forehead. When James wakes in the hospital, he contacts Caleb. James goes to Caleb's home to be consoled, but does not contact Jamie or Ceth, neither of whom can understand why he wouldn't call them or come home.

There follows an interlocking trio of scenes showing connections between the characters' emotional problems and their sexual acts.

1) At Caleb's house Caleb and James have sex, and James allows Caleb to penetrate him, something he has never allowed anyone to do to him before. In a dramatic revelation, James is seen in the window of Caleb's apartment by his boyfriend, Jamie, who realizes in that moment that James is alive and OK.

2) Rob and Severin have a paid encounter where Rob asks to be beaten, something he couldn't ask Sofia to do. As this progresses Severin loses control and Rob tries to comfort her.

3) Sofia has a dream (?) of struggling through an overgrown, wild forested area to a gentle seashore where she tries to achieve orgasm again. On failing she screams and (in the real world) the lights go off across the city.

The film ends with a song by Justin Bond at Shortbus during the blackout (caused by Sofia's orgasmic frustration?). Sofia arrives and sees Rob with Severin and after acknowledging him sits on her own. James and Jamie also arrive followed by Ceth and Caleb.

Justin's song starts on a wistful note but as it progresses it becomes energetic and positive (helped by the arrival of a brass band). This is mirrored in the actions and emotions of the actors. Jamie and James "make out" on the floor in front of a sofa where Ceth and Caleb seem to be hitting it off. Rob seems to find a friend and Severin towards the climactic moments of the film moves from nervous anxiety to happy elation upon the arrival of the band.

While having a threesome with the couple, Nick and Leah (Jan Hilmer and Shanti Carson) who she has seen several times before Sofia finally achieves an orgasm, the blackout affecting New York (coincidentally?) ends, as does the film. Template:Endspoiler

Public reaction

Lee was nearly fired by her present employers, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (for which she hosts a radio program), for taking a role in this film in which she takes part in several unsimulated sexual scenes. Ultimately, she retained her job as the CBC relented in the face of support for Lee from the public[1], as well as celebrities such as Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Stipe and Yoko Ono.[2]

In 2003, writer Paul Festa kept a multi-part journal on Salon.com chronicling his experiences auditioning for the film and trying to befriend Mitchell. [3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on Conor Oberst's (Bright Eyes) record label, Team Love. John Cameron Mitchell directed the music video for "First Day of My Life."

Tracklisting

  1. Scott Matthew - "Upside Down"
  2. Azure Ray - "If You Fall"
  3. Yo La Tengo - "Wizard’s Sleeve"
  4. Animal Collective - "Winter’s Love"
  5. Scott Matthew - "Surgery"
  6. Sook-Yin Lee - "Beautiful"
  7. Gentleman Reg - "It’s Not Safe"
  8. John LaMonica - "Kids"
  9. Scott Matthew - "Language"
  10. Jay Brannan - "Soda Shop"
  11. Anita O'Day - "Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby"
  12. The Ark - "Kolla Kolla"
  13. The Hidden Cameras - "Boys of Melody"
  14. Scott Matthew - "Little Bird"
  15. The Ark - "This Piece of Poetry Is Meant To Do Harm"
  16. Jasper James - "This House"
  17. Scott Matthew - "In the End (Long Film Version)"
  18. Scott Matthew - In the End (Acoustic)

References

  1. ^ Stone, Jay (22 May 2006). "Sook-Yin Lee's film debut definitely not CBC fare". The Ottawa Citizen (via Canada.com. Retrieved 2006-07-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Johnson, Brian D. (02 June 2006). "Sook-Yin Lee shocker in Cannes". Macleans.com. Retrieved 2006-07-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ Festa, Paul (2003-03-13). "Naked on the set!". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-10-10.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shortbus&oldid=102632417"