Shortbus

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Shortbus is a 2006 film made by John Cameron Mitchell, the guy behind Hedwig and The Angry Inch. It is known primarily for its scenes of unsimulated sex.

Set in New York City, the movie follows two occasionally intersecting narratives. The first revolves around Sofia, a sex therapist who has never achieved orgasm in her life, and the strain it puts on her relationship. After attending the Studio 54-esque club Shortbus, Sofia befriends professional dominatrix Severin, who tries to help her finally find orgasm.

The second revolves around James, an amateur filmmaker and former hustler who is morose and introverted. He and his boyfriend, Jamie, begin an open relationship with a third man, while a fourth, named Caleb, stalks James from his apartment one block over. The film James has been working on turns out to have an unpleasant surprise...

While Shortbus has largely been overshadowed by Hedwig and The Angry Inch, it remains a quirky and off-beat flick with its own merits. If nothing else, it has lots and lots of sex in it.


Tropes used in Shortbus include: