6.17.2006
Definitely Not the Internet
As best I can figure, the indie film Shortbus, which premiered at Cannes a few weeks ago, is causing quite a ruckus because of the audacious fact that it co-stars CBC darling, Sook-Yin Lee. At first glance, it may appear that the film's "actual" sex acts are the source of buzz, but, really, if it didn't feature the beloved Sook-Yin would anyone really care? As my old philosophy teachers would say, the sex may be necessary, but it is not sufficient. I actually took a quick look around the "internet of computers" and apparently there are many, many films out there that feature actual sex (776 milion hits, weird). And we never even hear about most of them!
Oh, right, but this is a Cannes film. Reading some of the commentary, the whole thing becomes almost parodic: "'We were all impressed with how natural and normal and comedic the extreme sex became without being offensive,' Mark Urman of ThinkFilm told the Hollywood Reporter." Oh come on -- since when has anyone in the film industry been a reliable judge of "natural"? And from the director: "We couldn't get Bush out in 2004, so a lot of people put their ideas into their artistic work." Thank god. Now that it's 2006, a Cannes film can finally "get Bush out." Hi fives for that one.
The real question is will I be seeing this one? HELL YES! It has Sook-Yin Lee and sex!
