AFTER his sex change musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch, writer-director John Cameron Mitchell turns to relationships among a group of New York City characters in his new movie.

Don't let that description fool you into thinking this is another angst-ridden drama of tedious American folk. He signals his up-front approach in a frenetic opening scene cutting between a variety of sexual acts - the sex therapist who's never had an orgasm; the gay man fellating himself (don't try this at home unless you're a contortionist or have the right equipment); and the S&M devotee contributing to a piece of wall art in a most unexpected way.

Mitchell used non-actors who responded to his open casting call and then developed characters in improvised workshops over many months. A bit like Mike Leigh's methods only with real sex.

This is a romantic comedy unlike any you have ever seen. Mitchell treats us to explicit scenes catering to a variety of sexual inclinations - straight, gay, bi, threesomes, S&M and orgies - as the characters sort out their emotional, as well as their sex, lives.

The link is that they all end up at Shortbus, an underground club where anything goes.

You'll certainly be surprised to see so much sex in an 18-rated movie.

Despite that, Shortbus emerges as sweet rather than seedy. Mitchell doesn't use real sex for titillation. It's part and parcel of these people's lives and problems. If you go to Shortbus just for the sex, you'll be bored because Mitchell has produced powerful scenes of fear and anger, pain and joy not a bonk-fest.

And the performances are as good, in some cases better, than he'd have got from a professional, known cast.

Stars: Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, P J DeBoy, Raphael Barker, Jay Brannan, Peter Stickles
Running time: 102 mins
Rating: Four stars