Amazon Prime has been branded 'hypocrites' after 'banning' an erotic movie from its platform.
Shortbus was released back in 2007, and centres on a group of couples living in New York who are struggling to navigate their sex lives. Check out the trailer:
Like several movies that have been released over the years, such as Lars Von Trier’s Nymphomaniac, it features unsimulated sex, with the actors really getting down to business.
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In short, it's a veritable bonkathon.
A synopsis for the film reads: "Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee) is a couples therapist who is unable to climax despite the ministrations of her loving husband.
"Gay couple James (Paul Dawson) and Jamie (PJ DeBoy) decide to open the doors of their relationship by inviting in a third partner.
"All three attend a mixer in which partygoers partake of a sexual banquet."
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Despite the best efforts of the film's producers, who have applied five times for it to be made available on Amazon Prime, Shortbus has been rejected on every occasion.
According to reports, Amazon rejected the film due to the fact the 'captions are out of sync' as well as it featuring 'offensive content'.
The site's response reads: "We aren’t making your title available on Prime Video as it violates our Content Policy Guidelines."
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Unsurprisingly, the decision did not go down well with those involved in making the movie.
Dan Berger is the president of distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories, and was disgusted by the lack of acceptance of the film.
He told IndieWire: "The prudishness and utter hypocrisy of refusing to carry this film — one that is the height of healthy representation, inclusiveness, and support for a community often persecuted — only further perpetuates abuse and they should be ashamed."
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The studio's official account on Instagram also hit out at Amazon, and it's former CEO, saying: "SHORTBUS is the movie @jeffbezos doesn’t want you to see!
"Despite there being plenty of other films on Prime with dicks and real sex, #ShortbusMovie has been BANNED from the platform.
“So if you want to watch @johncameronmitchell’s 2006 masterpiece in stunning 4K, please do so via a more open-minded VOD service."
The movie currently has a score of 68 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving mixed reviews from critics.
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"Shortbus could stand to lose 30 minutes off its flabbily melancholic denouement," wrote one.
While another said: "Everything comes to a head in a touchy-feely climax (if you catch our drift) where, ironically, it isn't the strong sex but all the singing and handholding that's the real turn-off."
LADbible has contacted Amazon for a comment
Topics: TV and Film
Dominic Smithers