“Shortbus” at Cannes

The biggest buzz release at the Cannes Festival (except for, you know, that one where Tom Hanks beats up Jesus) is "Shortbus", the new film by John Cameron Mitchell that has the critics delighted by its funny and thoughtful look at sex and relationships. Originally titled "The Sex Film Project," the movie (which you could have been a part of) has generated its share of controversy ... and includes scenes of unsimulated sex and orgasms, though that's probably just a coincidence. Despite all the (mostly) positive attention, the question everyone seems to be asking is whether audiences in the US will get to see it; it's sure to land an NC-17 rating, and that's if it can even find a distributor. We're more curious, however, about why a film that features actual penetration, graphic oral sex, and a man ejaculating into his own mouth isn't considered a porn movie. "The purpose of pornography is to arouse, and I don't think anybody got a hard-on watching this film," explains Mitchell. Fair enough, but we don't appreciate this cheap shot: "I define pornography as [being] devoid of artistic intent." Hey buddy, that hurts!

· "Explicit 'Shortbus' rides to Cannes fest" (AP @ seattlepi.nwsource.com)
· "The Sex Film Project" (filmstew.com)
· "The Shortbus Dilemma" + "Shortbus" review (cinematical.com)
· "Sex and the CBC host: it's definitely not PG" (theglobeandmail.com)
· "Real sex in 'Shortbus' an 'act of resistance'" (John Cameron Mitchell interview @ hollywoodreporter.com)

Previously: "Shortbus" Actors Wanted, Riding the "Shortbus", "Filthy/Gorgeous",