Director: John Cameron Mitchell

Writer (WGA): John Cameron Mitchell (written by)

Release Date: 20 May 2006 (Cannes Film Festival, France)
15 September 2006 (Milwaukee LGBT Film and Video Festival, USA)

Genre: Drama, Romance

Tagline: Voyeurism is Participation

Plot: In his aim to make an honest film about sex, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) has taken a somewhat documentary approach to Shortbus, a film describing various New Yorkers' sexual pathos. Framed by shots roving a homemade diorama of the city, Shortbus is comprised of vignettes featuring actors who helped craft this story of people's disconnect in sexual endeavors. Jamie (PJ DeBoy) and James (Paul Dawson), a gay couple experiencing a lull in their relationship, visit Sophia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist whose inability to orgasm results in her clients inviting her to a sex club after which the film is titled. Sophia's husband, Rob (Raphael Barker), is also willing to experiment, so the two independently embark on adventures in self-pleasure. Dominatrix Severin (Lindsay Beamish) plays a crucial role in Sophia and Rob's lives, as her search for real humanity overlaps with their desire for passion. As each character's plot complicates, the viewer sees a similar melancholy bulldozing its way into these seemingly disparate lives. The depression is repeatedly used in comedic scenes, such as when James is asked on a date while still hospitalized for his attempted suicide. Yo La Tengo's score, which includes Animal Collective among others, lends this film a graceful ambience. Unlike porn, Shortbus has a resonance that encourages the viewer to consider one's own sex life as an important aspect of happiness. (Trinie Dalton)

Awards: 2006 Audience Award as Best Dramatic Movie (John Cameron Mitchell), Athens International Film Festival
2007 Chlotrudis Award Nomination as Best Movie
2007 GLAAD Media Award Nomination as Outstanding Film - Limited Release
2006 Gijón International Film Festival Award as Best Art Direction (Jody Asnes) and Best Screenplay (John Cameron Mitchell)
2006 Grand Prix Asturias Nomination as Best Feature (John Cameron Mitchell), Gijón International Film Festival
2007 Glitter Award as Best Actor (Paul Dawson)
2006 Gotham Award Nomination as Best Ensemble Cast
2007 Producers Award to Howard Gertler & Tim Perell, Independent Spirit Awards
2006 International Jury Award Nomination to John Cameron Mitchell, São Paulo International Film Festival
2006 Golden Eye Award as Best New Feature Film (John Cameron Mitchell), Zurich Film Festival

@IMDb
@Amazon: Shortbus (Unrated Edition)
@Netflix
@Wolfe Video 

 









Cast (in credits order)
Sook-Yin Lee ... Sofia
Paul Dawson ... James
Lindsay Beamish ... Severin
PJ DeBoy ... Jamie
Raphael Barker ... Rob
Peter Stickles ... Caleb, the Stalker
Jay Brannan ... Ceth
Alan Mandell ... Tobias, the Mayor
Adam Hardman ... Jesse, the John
Ray Rivas ... Shabbos Goy
Bitch ... Bitch / Shortbus House Band
Shanti Carson ... Leah, the Beautiful Couple
Justin Hagan ... Brad
Jan Hilmer ... Nick, the Beautiful Couple
Stephen Kent Jusick ... Creamy
Yolonda Ross ... Faustus
Jocelyn Samson ... Jid (as JD Samson)
Daniela Sea ... Little Prince
Miriam Shor ... Cheryl
Rachael C. Smith ... Zoey (as Rachael Cyna Smith)
Derek Jackson ... Derek
Paul Oakley Stovall ... Magnus
Lex Vaughn ... Bucky
Justin Bond ... Himself
David Pittu ... Jacuzzi Hunter
Jeff Whitty ... Jacuzzi Hunted
Mickey Cottrell ... Dead Man in the Jacuzzi
Mary Beth Peil ... Ann (Our Lady of the Gutter)
Bradford Scobie ... Dr. Donut
Murray Hill ... Murray Hill
Ethan Eunson-Conn ... Sex-Not-Bombs Room D.J.
Jonathan Caouette ... Blondie-Grabber
Rachel Friedman ... Yenta Voice (voice)
Reg Vermue ... The Albino
Tanya Gagné ... The Wau Wau Sister
Adrienne Truscott ... The Wau Wau Sister
Dirty Martini ... Dirty Martini
Timmy Young ... Mikey / Oglesby the Puppet
The World Famous *BoB* ... The World Famous *BOB*
Eric Gilliland ... Eric Gilliland
Jasper James ... Jasper
Grace Kahng ... Suicide Nurse
Ralph Gunderman ... Radio Announcer (voice)
Nate Calkins ... Shortbus House Band
Christine Choi ... Shortbus House Band
Paul Festa ... Shortbus House Band / Sextra
Peter Gingerich ... Shortbus House Band
Scott Matthew ... Shortbus House Band
Louis Schwadron ... Shortbus House Band
Jeanette Seidman ... Shortbus House Band
Matt Way ... Shortbus House Band
Jeannann Seidman ... Shortbus House Band
Brent Alberghini ... Sextra
Ashley Balavender ... Sextra
Jonathan Bastiani ... Sextra
John Caffery ... Sextra
Anthony Cefala ... Sextra
Aeran Doron ... Sextra
Patrick Egan ... Sextra
Cat Erickson ... Sextra
Feva ... Sextra
Colin Fitzpatrick ... Sextra
Michael C. Freeland ... Sextra
Shawn Frenté ... Sextra
Pamela Giaroli ... Sextra
Joseph Gross ... Sextra
Christopher Hamblin ... Sextra
Timothy Heber ... Sextra
Sienna Horton ... Sextra
Bel Jordan ... Sextra
Joseph Keckler ... Sextra
Bré Kelly ... Sextra
Kenneth Lang ... Sextra
Lapis Luxury ... Sextra
Erin Markey ... Sextra
Janie Martinez ... Sextra
Kelly McKay ... Sextra
Jesse Miller ... Sextra
Kristen Munchheimer ... Sextra
Nicole Pasulka ... Sextra
Carlo Quispe ... Sextra
Emma Rander ... Sextra
David W. Robinson ... Sextra
Jesse Sanford ... Sextra
Frank Susa ... Sextra
Tristan Taormino ... Sextra
Matt Thomas ... Sextra
Layard Thompson ... Sextra
Colten Tognazzini ... Sextra
Jorge Torres ... Sextra
Lix Velvet ... Sextra
Will D. Ware ... Sextra
Isabelle Woodley ... Sextra
Leopard Zeppard ... Sextra
Kris Anton ... Hungry March Band
Jason Candler ... Hungry March Band
Jon 'Corn Mo' Cunningham ... Hungry March Band
Luca Fadda ... Hungry March Band
Emily Fairey ... Hungry March Band
Julie Hair ... Hungry March Band
Michele Hardesty ... Hungry March Band
Jen Emma Hertel ... Hungry March Band
John Heyenga ... Hungry March Band
Ben Holtzman ... Hungry March Band
Richard Hutchins ... Hungry March Band
Sebastian Isler ... Hungry March Band
Joseph B. Keady ... Hungry March Band
Quince Marcum ... Hungry March Band
Ben Meyers ... Hungry March Band
Anders Nelson ... Hungry March Band
Greg Schneiderman ... Hungry March Band
Sasha Sumner ... Hungry March Band
Samantha Tsisktinas ... Hungry March Band
Sara Valentine ... Hungry March Band
Theresa Westerdahl ... Hungry March Band
Okkon Yokoyama ... Hungry March Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Slattery ... Piñata Boy
Fast Ali ... Party Girl (uncredited)


James & Jamie


Ceth & Caleb


Sofia & Rob


Severin & Jesse