This is a very explicit, tender, inventive and fascinating film. It has an almost surreally ethereal quality to it, beautifully accentuated by interludes of modelled artwork depicting sweeping cityscapes which deftly signal the heightened artistic sensibilities imbuing the narrative here.
The intertwining tales of (to quote the DVD cover description) ‘a sex therapist who has never had an orgasm, a dominatrix who is unable to connect, and a gay couple looking to open up their relationship’, as well as numerous other supporting characters along the way, form a heady, spiralling montage of feelings and ideas and textures revolving around issues of identity, aspiration, searching and belonging. It is all beautifully and boldly abstract and refreshingly human.
I really, really enjoyed this movie. There are some simply exquisite scenes, such as, to give just one example, when Sofia, the sex therapist, becomes distracted mid-session. Her mind wanders off into the trees which are through the window and across the way, and she just disappears into the undergrowth. It was odd, disorientating, inventive, engrossing. Much like the movie as a whole.
The thing that worked best for me, though, and the main reason I enjoyed Shortbus so much, is the fact that the characters were so beautifully conceived and so fantastically well portrayed. I found I was engaged by them from the very start, was intrigued by their individual journeys, wanted to find out what happened to them, and wanted them to be okay.
Ultimately, this is a distinctively quirky and finely crafted film, and one which I cannot see failed in any of its objectives. It felt fresh, vibrant and generous. A film with heart, soul and vision. Very highly recommended.
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