In 1998, John Cameron Mitchell directed and starred in the hilarious, poignant, and hard rocking "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" based on his stage musical of the same name. For a 2006 follow-up project, he did something completely revolutionary—and that pushed buttons for a lot of folks: he made a film that showed actual sex. Full-on oral sex and penetration, gay and straight. But after seeing “Shortbus,” I can assure you that the result is anything but pornographic. Despite the graphic sex scenes (yes, to a “finish”), this film is decidedly UN-erotic.
The story follows a group of New Yorkers through their lives and psychological trials and tribulations which happen to involve their sexuality, hence the sex scenes. The result is a peripherally sexy but ultimately heavy journey through some crippling self-doubt and despair. Mitchell has said about the sexual content of “Shortbus,” “In the old days, when you couldn't show sex on film, directors like Hitchcock had metaphors for sex (trains going into tunnels, etc). When you can show more realistic sex, the sex itself can be a metaphor for other parts of the character's lives. The way people express themselves sexually can tell you a lot about who they are. Some people ask me, 'Couldn't you have told the same story without the explicitness?'. They don't ask whether I could've done Hedwig without the songs. Why not be allowed to use every paint in the paintbox?”
I did enjoy it and was pleasantly surprised to find more in it than simply the sexual controversy that was stirred up for its theatrical release. The actors are mighty brave for showing us everything and performing sexually. But their talent obviously goes farther than that because Mitchell gave them a lot to feel and to struggle through, and the cast handled it well. I understand the actors worked with Mitchell on each of their characters, workshopping backstories and traits, and incorporating a lot of the actor's own personal history into the film.
And the computer-generated “cardboard box” model of Manhattan and all the burroughs is a delightful sight.
Recommend? It is NOT for everyone—I will recommend it only to those who feel they can handle such a film. Forewarned is forearmed.
The story follows a group of New Yorkers through their lives and psychological trials and tribulations which happen to involve their sexuality, hence the sex scenes. The result is a peripherally sexy but ultimately heavy journey through some crippling self-doubt and despair. Mitchell has said about the sexual content of “Shortbus,” “In the old days, when you couldn't show sex on film, directors like Hitchcock had metaphors for sex (trains going into tunnels, etc). When you can show more realistic sex, the sex itself can be a metaphor for other parts of the character's lives. The way people express themselves sexually can tell you a lot about who they are. Some people ask me, 'Couldn't you have told the same story without the explicitness?'. They don't ask whether I could've done Hedwig without the songs. Why not be allowed to use every paint in the paintbox?”
I did enjoy it and was pleasantly surprised to find more in it than simply the sexual controversy that was stirred up for its theatrical release. The actors are mighty brave for showing us everything and performing sexually. But their talent obviously goes farther than that because Mitchell gave them a lot to feel and to struggle through, and the cast handled it well. I understand the actors worked with Mitchell on each of their characters, workshopping backstories and traits, and incorporating a lot of the actor's own personal history into the film.
And the computer-generated “cardboard box” model of Manhattan and all the burroughs is a delightful sight.
Recommend? It is NOT for everyone—I will recommend it only to those who feel they can handle such a film. Forewarned is forearmed.
1 comment:
Thanks for this! I'd heard JCM talk about this being his next project after "Hedwig." I'm quite interested to see it.
xxoo
Cyn
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