Shame (2011 film)



A 2011 film directed and co-written by Steve McQueen.

Michael Fassbender stars as Brandon Sullivan, a 30-something yuppie New Yorker suffering from sex addiction. Things only get worse for him when his little sister, Sissy, (Carey Mulligan) shows up and insists on staying with him. His life then spirals out of control.

Fassbender has already won multiple awards for his role, including the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival. The film has earned the dreaded NC-17 rating in the United States due to the sheer amount of nudity and graphic sex depicted, though the filmmakers expected it and released it unchanged.


 * Anything That Moves: Brandon seems to have no problem sleeping with men as well as women if the circumstances demand it.
 * Casanova Wannabe: David spends every waking moment hitting on women, even though he's married with kids, and seems to have a great time doing it even though he's often unsuccessful. Brandon, in contrast, seems to have no problem finding sexual partners, but it brings him virtually no happiness.
 * Caught with Your Pants Down: Both siblings accidentally walk in on the other one naked. And in both cases they seem more bothered by the invasion of privacy than any qualms about seeing their bodies.
 * Crapsack World: It's implied that the fast-moving life in a city like New York and the social expectations that come with it are partly responsible for Brandon's addiction.
 * A Date with Rosie Palms: Brandon, a few times. We get the impression he does it frequently at work.
 * Downer Ending: Sissy has for what is likely not the first time, and Brandon still hasn't really dealt with his problems.
 * Driven to Suicide:
 * Explicit Content: Numerous unfulfilling sex scenes between Brandon and various women, not to mention the big time porn and masturbation habits, serve to illustrate the character's damaging and compulsive sexual behavior.
 * Fake Nationality / Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Fassbender drifts in and out of an American accent, but they include a token "I grew up in Ireland" line (probably so he can focus less on his accent and more on keeping in character during largely improvised scenes). Mulligan on the other hand maintains a convincing American accent most of the time, but also occasionally drifts into what sounds like an Irish accent, despite the Actress being English.
 * Fan Disservice: Lots and lots of nudity and lots of sex, but in every case the context kills the erotica.
 * Foreshadowing : when Sissy first takes the metro with Brandon, she's awfully close to the edge of the platform and Brandon grabs her, prompting her not to do something silly (such as committing suicide). At the end of the movie,
 * It's very, very quick, but after Sissy sings at the lounge, when Brandon leaves the table to get drinks (the only moment in the film when we're not with him), David notices the and asks about them, but she dismissively says that she was "bored when [she] was younger," and he doesn't press the issue. Later,, Brandon notices them as well and realizes
 * Improv: Several scenes were partially or largely ad-libbed, including Brandon and Marianne's date, leading to an endearingly awkward and realistic conversation.
 * Incest Subtext: Brandon and Sissy's relationship is waaaaaaay open to interpretation.
 * It's Not Porn, It's Art
 * Joisey: Where Brandon and Sissy grew up.
 * Leave the Camera Running: McQueen loves these; Brandon and Marianne's date is one long take, as is part of Sissy's performance of "New York, New York," as is their heated conversation on the couch.
 * The Loins Sleep Tonight: Brandon has no problem achieving arousal for the most part - except when in emotionally intimate circumstances, as his second "date" with Marianne demonstrates.
 * Male Frontal Nudity: And how! The very beginning of the film features extended looks at Fassbender's not-so-little soldier.
 * Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Sissy. Though it doesn't seem to be working for her.
 * Mood Whiplash: Used a few times, most strikingly after Sissy catches Brandon having private moment and thinks he's kidding when he angrily confronts her, only to become extremely scared and upset when she realizes he's not. Made all the more powerful because it's in one take.
 * My Sister Is Off-Limits: Brandon is less than pleased about Sissy having sex with his boss. Whether it's because of this trope, because his boss is married with children or something else entirely is open to debate.
 * The Oner: Brandon jogs along 31st St. at night while ; it's shot as one long take.
 * Out, Damned Spot!: Brandon is rather compulsive about cleaning himself.
 * Platonic Prostitution: Played with - Brandon hires numerous prostitutes for sex, but at times seems to be trying to form some sort of emotional connection with them, perhaps just out of sheer desperation. They always politely decline.
 * The Pornomancer: Brandon throws himself at women almost as frequently as they throw themselves at him.
 * Porn Stash: Brandon's office computer is full to the brim with porn. There's plenty in his apartment as well, which he disposes of when Sissy shows up.
 * Really Gets Around: Brandon. The movie itself is something of a Deconstruction of this idea.
 * Single Tear: When Sissy sings in the nightclub, a perfect single tear rolls down Brandon's face.
 * Soundtrack Dissonance: Lots, such as when Brandon listens to gentle piano music when out running while.
 * There Are No Therapists: And boy are they needed.
 * Three-Way Sex: Brandon has this with two prostitutes.