Shortbus

For me, Shortbus is a film that I had to let sink into my mind in order for me to write a response. I think that the whole idea, process, and film itself is definitely different, but I also have a lot of respect for everyone involved and admire all the work that was put into Shortbus. Most of all however, the message it brings to the audience; the whole concept of insecurities, the lack of acceptance from others, and then finally the ability to find happiness, with the help from your own self and people who love you is what I adore about the film. Even though some moments were a little tense, I enjoyed the ride of emotions Shortbus took me on.

At first I felt shocked and a little bit awkward watching a man attempting to give himself head. Also, Sophia and Rob’s beginning sex scenes kind of had me thinking we were about to watch a porn in film class. To be honest, even though I fully support gay rights, I could have done without watching the man on man…on man action. I didn’t really know what to think at first. When the film first exposes Shortbus, which is basically like an underground sex club, I noticed it is definitely a place where there are no boundaries whatsoever when it comes to sexual activity and expression. Shortbus is kind of like a utopia. The film makes sex look like a form of art. Porn however, makes sex look raunchy. Although Shortbus is extremely graphic and full of sex and nudity, I don’t think Shortbus should be considered pornography. Shortbus brings real life troubles to the table, not fantasies and close-ups.

A certain scene in the film that impacted me the most is set in the first visit to Shortbus. In a huge crowd full of totally unique people, the camera focuses on a very elderly man in a business suit sitting alone. Ceth, a young, good looking guy approaches the elderly man because they were matched on some sort of Shortbus social network. The man tells Ceth he is the former New York Mayor and begins to explain how his sexuality has made him feel so unaccepted, unwanted, and judged for his whole life. It made me sad to think some people never get to experience all the love they deserve because they are ashamed of feeling something other than what is considered to be normal, and because they are scared of how society, family, or friends might view or treat them.

One of my favorite characters is James. When talking about love he states, “I see it... all around me... but it stops at my skin. I can't let it inside. It's always been like that. It's always gonna be like that.” Before he met his partner, Jamie, James was a male prostitute. Sex turned into a job for him, he had a distorted image of himself, and he couldn’t let any intimacy into his life. James attempted suicide, but Caleb (a stalker of his) saved his life and convinced James that it is worth living. It goes to show that sometimes people are so numb that they would rather just end their life all together, and that is unfortunate.

Another one of my favorite characters from the film is Sophia. She is a sex/relationship therapist, yet she has been pre-orgasmic her whole life. She spends most of her time helping others but can’t seem to satisfy herself, and neither can her husband. Obviously, she is bound to snap at some point, and when she does she finds her way to Shortbus through 2 of her clients, a gay couple, James and Jamie. Shortbus opens her sexual world up to so many possibilities, but before she finally gets what she needs, all of her other irritated attempts to “pleasure” herself actually bring some comic relief to the film.

Some people were upset that the movie ended happily, but the movie is about overcoming struggles. I was glad that everyone ended up all together at Shortbus and “lived happily ever after”!