Opening 19 Oct 2006
Directed by:
John Cameron Mitchell
Writing credits:
John Cameron Mitchell
Principal actors:
Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, PJ DeBoy, Raphael Barker
From John Cameron Mitchell, whose debut film Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) won the audience prize and best director at the Sundance Film Festival, this is another unique and humorous peek at sexuality and intimate relationships. Sophia (Sook-Yin Lee) is a couples’ counselor although everyone seems to only want sex therapy. She thinks her husband Rob (Raphael Barker) doesn’t know she fakes orgasms. At work, Sophia tries to help a couple with the same problem and then tries out her own advice on her husband. Another couple, Jamie (PJ DeBoy) and James (Paul Dawson) are a monogamous gay couple but James wants to bring in other men. James videotapes himself all the time and seems very depressed. They decide to include Ceth (Jay Brannon) in their relationship which makes a voyeur across the street upset. Then Sophia, on the advice of the two Jameses, visits a dominatrix. They all find themselves together at the NYC club Shortbus, where sexual issues are shared along with sex partners. Although there are some explicit sex scenes, they are an integral part of the story. So just loosen up, keep an open mind and enjoy the ride on Shortbus! (Mary Nyiri)
