A group of New Yorkers get caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its blend of art, music, politics, and carnality.

Director: John Cameron Mitchell

TRAILER:

The film is set in contemporary New York City and revolves around Sofia Lin (Sook-Yin Lee), who is married to the handsome but dimwitted Rob (Raphael Barker). She works as a couples counselor/sex therapist although she has never achieved an orgasm. She comes into contact with a couple: former child star Jamie (PJ DeBoy) and former prostitute James (Paul Dawson), the film's other protagonist. At the outset, James suggests to his boyfriend that they open up their relationship to sex with others. During their first consultation, Sofia snaps, slaps Jamie, and apologetically reveals her "pre-orgasmic" status. The couple suggests she attend a weekly social/artistic/sexual salon in Brooklyn called "Shortbus," which is hosted by drag performance artist Justin Bond (playing vself). Sofia slowly opens up to new experiences; this includes a friendship with a dominatrix who goes by the name Severin played by Lindsay Beamish. (Severin was the name of the masochist protagonist of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's Venus in Furs.) Sofia's inability to achieve orgasm begins to cause conflict with her husband Rob. Rob begins attending Shortbus with Sofia.