Real Talk: Shortbus (2006)

I had never heard of the film 'Shortbus' before January, but since watching it I often reflect on the thoughts that the film evoked. Thoughts on how people can often feel alone despite being surrounded by hundreds of thousands of other people. Consideration about how communicating how we feel is not always as simple as speaking and reflections on how sex, intimacy, desire and the erotic are connected, but are not necessarily synonymous. The film is set in New York and focuses on group of people who are figuring out themselves and their romantic and sexual relationships as their lives converge at the Shortbus, an infamous underground salon that is full of music, art, carnality and conversation.

Directed and written by John Cameron Mitchell (for those of you who watch Girls he's the one who told Hannah that he wanted her write a book in a month an episode ago), 'Shortbus' is easily the film containing the most sex I have ever seen on screen. Its actors and actresses are actually having sex, which I thought would be distracting, but it wasn't. It took a backseat to the issues the film discussed and the thoughts the work provoked. I don't want to ruin this story for you and I do want to make sure to let you all know that if you aren't okay with watching sex that this is not the film for you. However, I do think that this is a film to watch and to think about. I will be adding this film to my collection (but I will probably have to hide it a drawer). 'Shortbus' is a winner in my opinion and a source from which introspection inevitably will occur.