Art is a process. Follow this process faithfully and you get something as magical as "Shortbus" - an explosion of raw, creative talent that takes you completely by surprise. You go in expecting pornography and when you come out, the only thing moist is your eye.Shortbus is a story about longing and belonging. It's also the name of an underground club in New York City - "a salon for the gifted", where people come to partake all manners of sensual pleasures. Mostly they come for a sense of belonging, to find what's missing in their lives. For some, it might be true sexual pleasure. Sex is an inseparable part of our lives, yet most of us keep it locked away in a closet of shame. Shortbus puts it out there, front and centre. Yet, its overall role in the movie is merely textural.
Shortbus is also a movie about New York - a city undergoing a magical transformation after the wounds of 9/11. "This is where everyone comes to be forgiven," says an aging former mayor. There's a recurring theme of transformation and redemption. Instead of the customary aerial shots of Manhattan, you see a camera naughtily panning over a clay & cardboard model of the city. Full points for originality.
This is moviemaking at its finest. Watch it - even if the orgies offend you.
3 comments:
I enjoyed it overall, but I did catch myself wincing and looking away during some of those raw sex scenes.
I love that song "In the End." I downloaded it I liked it so much.
It was a highly original movie.
Yes - love that song - it's so haunting. In fact, I downloaded the whole soundtrack. There's some nice music in there from little-known artists.
From the man who brought us "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"? Should be a treat!!
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