Pee Shy
Directed by Steven Brokaw Jackson
Produced by Alex Wolf Lewis & Kaitlyn Schwalje
United States | English | 20' | Documentary
A lifelong shy pee-er embarks on a quest to overcome his fear of public urination. Along the way, he enlists the help of experts, loved ones, and a largely invisible community of fellow sufferers.
Pee Shy is the kind of disarming documentary that can make you giggle and upon further reflection understand how deeply it sees you. Steven Jackson takes his terror of public peeing – yes, it’s a real thing called paruresis or “shy bladder” - and turns it into a quest narrative, chasing liberation through therapy sessions, awkward confessions, and a secret society of fellow shy pee-ers. The film’s charm is how Jackson treats his phobia - as a universal stand-in for shame itself. He’s vulnerable and funny, and reminds us that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is just talk it out – just don’t look!
- Vincent DeLuca, Programmer