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LoveLion
Aug 25, 2007, 3:02 AM
I was walking through the video store the other day when a sign caught my eye. The sign said in bug red letters "WARNING: This film contains very adult content and explicit nudity, must be 18 years of age to rent". So naturally I was instantly intrigued. The video store didnt rent porn, and upon closer inspection I saw the sign was referring to a film called "Shortbus". It looked neat, and nothing else really interested me in the store so I rented it. It turned out to be a really neat movie. Basically it follows several characters (homosexual, heterosexual and Bisexual) living in New York as they deal with their won sexual, romantic and personal struggles. The characters are all connected by their attendance to a club called Shortbus (hence the title), were all the frustration and standards of society are thrown out and people are free to express themselves and be as they truly are and are free to explore their sexuality. The movie did contain full nudity and several sex scenes including a gay 3some, orgies, dominatrices, a self-suck scene and several others. But the sex wasnt pornographic in any way really, rather it was just people having sex (if that makes sense).

Even more interesting then the film, was the making of documentary on the special features. I learned that the film had started out as an internet project simply called "The Sex Film". Its goal was to make a movie that showed the "other side" of sex. Rather then using sex in a pornographic way, they wanted to view it as a natural and beautiful aspect of human connection. All the actors and actresses sent in audition tapes to the site and were call cast from there. Then when the cast was assembled they all sat down and wrote their own characters and the story together.

As a side not, some of you fellow Canadians may remember the controversy it sparked when on of the CBC radio show hosts was picked to be in the film. The station was originally going to not let her do the film and fire her if she did, but backed down after a flurry of calls, letters and emails showing support for the film and the actress/radio host.

Anyway, it was a really neat and unique movie. If you havent seen it, you should check it out. If you have, what did you think of it?

mistymockingbird
Aug 25, 2007, 3:20 AM
I saw it several months ago and loved it. I had read about it in an issue of OUT. I've been a John Cameron Mitchell fan since Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

I thought it was a great depiction of fluid sexuality and also made relevant statements about how much of our greater selves are defined by our sexuality, regardless of gender or orientation. And the sex was very real and very hot but as you said, not in a porn sort of way. Its just gritty and raw and powerful.

I highly recommend this movie. Netflix has it if you're local video store doesn't.

Azrael
Aug 25, 2007, 6:55 AM
I took the shortbus to school, for real. My school didn't have it's own gifted program, we got sent across the bay to the other school :bigrin:

nothings5d
Aug 26, 2007, 9:47 AM
I want to buy a shortbus so I can say I took the shortbus to college.

the sacred night
Aug 26, 2007, 3:06 PM
I saw it a couple weeks ago, and I loved it. I think it's really important to embrace sex as natural and fluid, and this film did a good job of showing the diversity, and the natural beauty of sex without being porn.

We were actually thinking of showing it at my university before we all had seen it, but after seeing it decided it was too excplicit, even though college students are generally at least 18. I think everyone should see it, but I thought to put our organization's name on it would just make us a target and play right into the hands of the bigots who accuse us of eroding family values. We have a lot of preachers that just come to campus and preach on the sidewalk, often accusing passersby of specific sins, often attacking the university for its programs, and most recently, wearing bright orange t-shirts saying "All homos go to hell." The last thing we need is for them to be able to say something shocking about us that's actually true.

mistymockingbird
Aug 26, 2007, 8:30 PM
I took the shortbus to school, for real. My school didn't have it's own gifted program, we got sent across the bay to the other school :bigrin:

OMG AZ! You're my soul mate. I rode the short bus as well for a special magnet program only offered at two schools in the district. We were doing stuff like algebra and French in 5th and 6th grade. My friends still tease me mercilessly about the fact that I rode the short bus. lol

redheadhoneycat
Aug 27, 2007, 1:13 AM
I want to buy a shortbus so I can say I took the shortbus to college.
LOLOLOLOLOL.....now that was funny!!! I checked out the trailer for the movie now I will have to see if I can get my hands on it in this small town....this should be a pain....grrr...I hate to buy movies I am not sure I will want to keep though so this may not be easy.