Shortbus

Synopsis:

Numerous New York City dwellers come to the exclusive club Shortbus to work out problems in their sexual relationships. Rob and Sophia are a happily married couple, except for the fact that she has never experienced sexual climax. This irony follows her to work because she is a couples counselor who frequently has to deal with the sexual issues other couples have. Two of her patients are Jamie and James, a gay couple who have been monogamous for five years and counting. James wants to bring other men in to the relationship, and his own history with depression may hint at an ulterior motive. Ceth (pronounced Seth) may be the perfect addition to their family, but Caleb, a voyeur from across the street, may have his own ideas about that. Sophia visits Severin, a dominatrix with secrets of her own to reveal.

Quick Thoughts:

If you are not aware of this 2006 queer film that shook the film industry, then you likely were too young or not born yet. And boy did it make it make a stir! Noted as the first mainstream film to show un-simulated sexual actions on the screen, initial reviews were mixed. Some loved the edgy & raw dive into human sexuality and interactions. Yet others protested and labeled it as pornography. In fact, you cannot stream this video on Prime Video because Amazon BANNED it after it was submitted five separate times! (Ok, “technically” it is on Prime but only because of agreements with other streaming services…) However as we approach the twenty year mark since “Shortbus” premiered, this queer film remains a one-of-a-kind experience. While I will leave it up to you to determine your thoughts on this film, I strongly encourage everyone to give it a watch. After all, you’ve got to get on [the bus] to get off!