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SYNOPSIS __________
Plot:
John Cameron Mitchell's SHORTBUS explores the lives of several
emotionally challenged characters as they navigate the comic
and tragic intersections between love and sex. A couples counselor
who has never had an orgasm, a dominatrix who is unable to
connect, a gay couple who are deciding whether to open up
their relationship, and the people who weave in and out of
their lives, all converge at a weekly gathering called "Shortbus"
- a modern-day underground salon that is a mad nexus of art,
music, politics and polysexual carnality. Set in a post-9/11,
Bush-exhausted New York City, SHORTBUS chronicles the vicissitudes
of these characters - their couplings, uncouplings, and various
connections - with unique sexual frankness, suggesting new
ways to reconcile questions of the mind, pleasures of the
flesh and imperatives of the heart.
The story centers around two couples who have reached critical
junctures in their relationships. Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a
sex therapist, has been faking it for years with her husband
Rob (Raphael Barker). James and Jamie have lived together
for years, but now James has suggested that they be open to
others. Since Jamie is reluctant, the pair consults Sofia
about this recent development. In their session, roles reverse
as Sofia admits her own problem, and James and Jamie suggest
she join them at "Shortbus."
These two central couples are surrounded by three important
characters. Severin (Lindsay Beamish) is a dominatrix who
has never experienced a deep, lasting relationship, and loneliness
is taking its toll. After meeting Sofia at "Shortbus,"
Severin offers to help Sofia find her orgasm, and in return,
Sofia will give Severin free therapy to help her in her quest
for connection. Meanwhile, Ceth (Jay Brannan) falls for James
and Jamie - not separately, but as a couple. He pursues the
idea of a monogamous three-way relationship with them. Finally,
there is Caleb (Peter Stickles), who lives in an apartment
with a grandstand view of James' and Jamie's apartment, watching
their every move, convinced they are the perfect couple. He
is shocked by the arrival of Ceth and sees him as a danger
to James' and Jamie's ideal relationship.
"Shortbus," a weekly salon in the Parisian Gertrude
Stein tradition, is held in the Brooklyn loft/domicile of
host Justin Bond (playing himself), who carefully fosters
a communitarian sanctuary of art, music, politics and public
sex. It's in this "anything goes/everyone comes"
environment that all of our characters begin to understand
who they are and what they really need in their lives.
DETAILS__________
Studio:
ThinkFilm Company
Release Date:
October 4, 2006 (New York)
October 6 (Los Angeles, San Francisco)
RELATED LINKS__________
MOVIE POSTERS:
www.impawards.com --- CLICK
HERE
INTERVIEW / filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell
www.twitchfilm.net --- CLICK
HERE
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