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Shortbus
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Shortbus (2006) -- A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.
Shortbus (2006) -- A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.
Shortbus (2006) -- A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   12,330 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writer (WGA):
John Cameron Mitchell (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Shortbus on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 October 2006 (Canada) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Voyeurism is Participation more
Plot:
A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
6 wins & 5 nominations more
User Comments:
On-screen sexual thrills take a backseat to Shortbus' emotional core more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Sook-Yin Lee ... Sofia
Paul Dawson ... James

Lindsay Beamish ... Severin
PJ DeBoy ... Jamie

Raphael Barker ... Rob

Peter Stickles ... Caleb, the Stalker
Jay Brannan ... Ceth
Alan Mandell ... Tobias, the Mayor
Adam Hardman ... Jesse, the John
Ray Rivas ... Shabbos Goy
Bitch ... Bitch / Shortbus House Band
Shanti Carson ... Leah, the Beautiful Couple
Justin Hagan ... Brad
Jan Hilmer ... Nick, the Beautiful Couple
Stephen Kent Jusick ... Creamy
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Sex Film Project (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
New York City, New York, USA
Company:
THINKFilm more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The character James in the movie is based on Jonathan Caouette, the director of, and whose life is the inspiration for, the movie Tarnation (2003). more
Goofs:
Continuity: When James and Jamie are talking about Ceth and about their relationship, the dancer in the back goes from topless in one shot, to with a top in the next. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Jesse, the John: Are you a top or a bottom?
Severin: I beg your pardon?
Jesse, the John: I mean in real life.
Severin: This is real life.
Jesse, the John: Let me put it this way: do you think we should get out of Iraq?
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Surgery (Remix) more

FAQ

Why is the movie called Shortbus?
Why actual sex? Is it really necessary?
more
163 out of 187 people found the following comment useful:-
On-screen sexual thrills take a backseat to Shortbus' emotional core, 5 October 2006
9/10
Author: pullmydaizy from United States

Set in modern-day New York City, a heterogeneous group of straights, gays and transgenders find common ground at Shortbus, an underground salon where people are free to explore their most carnal sexual desires with random hookups and nightlong orgies – sometimes even finding bits of wisdom along the way.

The superb cast of characters of John Cameron Mitchell's "Shortbus" powerfully draws the viewer in to each of the characters' lives and problems. Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist who's never had an orgasm, seeks out ways to overcome her "pre-orgasmic" dilemma, profoundly affecting her marriage. James (Paul Dawson), a former male escort battling depression, goes to ultimate extremes when he can't even seem to feel happiness with his loving and devoted partner of five years, Jamie (PJ DeBoy). Struggling artist Severin (Lindsay Beamish), who succumbed to work as a dominatrix, seeks to have a meaningful relationship with someone – anyone.

Yes, the on-screen sex is real. And there's lots of it. But rather than displaying sexually explicit scenes for the sake of cheap titillation, "Shortbus" is provocative with an actual purpose. We're not in Hollywood anymore.

While sex is a main focal point in the film, it is not the sole one. "Shortbus" deals with all manners of human relations. Not stressing one form over another, it shows how sex, friendship and love continually intermingle. Because one's comfort level with their sexuality mirrors how one relates in all other relationships, showing the raw and carnal aspect of each character so explicitly works beautifully to accurately convey their motivations and struggles.

In a touching conversation, an old man identifying himself as the former mayor of New York says to the young and naive Ceth (Jay Brannan), "People come to New York to get laid ... People also come to New York to be forgiven." The latter can also be said for those who elect to see this film. Whether dealing with sexual oppression, struggling with sexual desires deemed socially deviant, seeking redemption for having already been there and done that, or feeling generally unaccepted for being who you are, the redemption value in this film is tenderly perceptible. "Shortbus" lets us know that gay, straight, bi, transgender, whatever – we all just want to feel accepted.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Shortbus (2006)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ok so did anyone else Gympie14
Why are all the guys circumcised? pjdavid
I don't care how arty this films supposed to be... (spoiler) go_team_bounty
The beard singer snowmalamute
The Star Spangled Banner... romoled01
'Monogamy is for straights...' pete_michaud
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