Shame
A controlled New York professional’s compulsive sexual life fractures when his emotionally volatile sister forces intimacy into the private world he has built to avoid it.
Overview
A gripping exploration of addiction and isolation in the heart of New York City.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- austere
- melancholic
- provocative
- serious film night
- arthouse cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a powerful, uncompromising study of sexual addiction, led by exceptional performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Brandon's pornography use, paid sex, masturbation, and repeated pursuit of partners structure his daily life and emotional isolation.
Brandon moves through contemporary New York offices, apartments, restaurants, bars, and subway spaces while remaining disconnected from intimacy.
Brandon can pursue sexual gratification but struggles to sustain genuine connection, especially as Sissy enters his private world.
Steve McQueen's direction closely observes Brandon's routines and sexual behavior through composed, unflinching imagery.
Films like Shame, and why
The Piano Teacher
shared erotic drama, urban alienation, sexual compulsion, and psychologically intimate treatment of self-destructive desire
Hunger
shared austere visual style, bodily intensity, addiction themes, and uncompromising examination of damaged intimacy
The Center of the World
shared erotic drama, loneliness, compulsive sexuality, and emotionally detached urban protagonists
Nymphomaniac: Vol. I
shared themes of sexual compulsion, shame, repression, and difficult attempts at human connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Steve McQueen
- Release Date
- 2011-10-02
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (3526)
Cast
- Michael Fassbender
- Carey Mulligan
- James Badge Dale
- Nicole Beharie
- Lucy Walters
- Mari-Ange Ramirez
- Alex Manette
- Hannah Ware
- Elizabeth Masucci
- Rachel Farrar
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Shame about?
- A controlled New York professional’s compulsive sexual life fractures when his emotionally volatile sister forces intimacy into the private world he has built to avoid it.
- What is Shame like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shame as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Shame violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Shame.
- What did critics think of Shame?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a powerful, uncompromising study of sexual addiction, led by exceptional performances from Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan.
- Which films are like Shame?
- Films with a similar feel include The Piano Teacher, Hunger, The Center of the World, and Nymphomaniac: Vol. I.
- How long is Shame?
- Shame runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch Shame?
- In United States, Shame is available to rent or buy from Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home.
