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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, it remains a quirky and off-beat flick with its own merits. If nothing else, it has lots and lots of sex in it.

This work contains the following examples:

A Date With Rosie Palms
Big Blackout
Bigger Is Better in Bed: Not actually discussed, but there can't be a single penis seen in the film less than seven inches long. (6 1/2 minimum)
Brains and Bondage: Severin
Cameo: Many, mostly of New York artists, musicians, and writers, and John Cameron Mitchell himself.
Embarrassing First Name: Severin's real name is Jennifer Aniston.
Epiphany Therapy
Everyone Is Bi: Except for the characters who are gay.
Hey, It's That Voice!: CBC Radio listeners will recognize journalist Sook-Yin Lee as Sofia. Definitely Not the Opera, indeed. Started a minor media storm in Canada when the CBC tried (and failed) to fire her for filming the non-simulated sex scenes in the film.
Interrupted Suicide
Love Dodecahedron
Meaningful Name: Severin, taken from the protagist of Venus in Furs. Also a subversion, as Severin is the submissive part in Venus in Furs.
My Girl Is a Slut
Naked On Arrival: The opening scene are different sex scenes intercut with each other, including James attempting autofellatio.
Nobody Over 50 Is Gay: Averted with Tobias, who most certainly does not resemble Ed Koch.
Rescue Romance
Shout-Out: A vibrating egg has the phrase In the Realm of The Senses written on it. And yes, it is inserted into one of the main characters' vagina.
Stalking Is Love
Turn of the Millennium: Referencing many current events and trends of the early 00s, including The War On Terror, 9/11, and the New York City blackout.
The Twink: Ceth, to some extent.
Transvestite: Justin Bond.

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 [[Big Applesauce|Set in New York City]], the movie [[Two Lines, No Waiting|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 [[Coolest Club Ever|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 [[Hooker With a Heart of Gold|hustler]] who is [[Loners Are Freaks|morose and introverted]]. He and his boyfriend, Jamie, begin an open relationship with a third man, while a fourth, named Caleb, [[Stalker With a Crush|stalks James from his apartment one block over]]. The film James has been working on [[Goodbye Cruel World|turns out to have an unpleasant surprise]]...
+The second revolves around James, an amateur filmmaker and former [[Hooker With a Heart of Gold|hustler]] who is [[Loners Are Freaks|morose and introverted]]. He and his boyfriend, Jamie, begin an open relationship with a third man, while a fourth, named Caleb, [[Stalker With a Crush|stalks James from his apartment one block over]]. The film James has been working on [[Goodbye, Cruel World|turns out to have an unpleasant surprise]]...
 While ''Shortbus'' has largely been overshadowed by ''[[Hedwig and The Angry Inch|Hedwig]]'', it remains a quirky and off-beat flick with its own merits. If nothing else, [[Its Not Porn Its Art|it has lots and lots of sex in it]].
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * [[Epiphany Therapy]]
 * [[Everyone Is Bi]]: Except for the characters who are gay.
-* [[Hey It's That Voice]]: CBC Radio listeners will recognize ''journalist'' Sook-Yin Lee as Sofia. Definitely Not the Opera, indeed. Started a minor media storm in Canada when the CBC tried (and failed) to fire her for filming the non-simulated sex scenes in the film.
+* [[Hey, It's That Voice!]]: CBC Radio listeners will recognize ''journalist'' Sook-Yin Lee as Sofia. Definitely Not the Opera, indeed. Started a minor media storm in Canada when the CBC tried (and failed) to fire her for filming the non-simulated sex scenes in the film.
 *  {{spoiler|[[Interrupted Suicide]]}}
 * [[Love Dodecahedron]]
@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 * [[Nobody Over 50 Is Gay]]: Averted with Tobias, who [[No Celebrities Were Harmed|most certainly does not resemble Ed Koch]].
 * {{spoiler|[[Rescue Romance]]}}
-* [[Shout Out]]: A vibrating egg has the phrase ''[[In the Realm of The Senses]]'' written on it. And yes, it is inserted into one of the main characters' vagina.
+* [[Shout-Out]]: A vibrating egg has the phrase ''[[In the Realm of The Senses]]'' written on it. And yes, it is inserted into one of the main characters' vagina.
 * {{spoiler|[[Stalking Is Love]]}}
 * [[Turn of the Millennium]]: Referencing many current events and trends of the early 00s, including [[The War On Terror]], 9/11, and the New York City blackout.
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 [[Category:Films of the 2000s]]
 [[Category:Shortbus]]
-[[Category:Trope]]