Sebastiane (1976)
1h 26m | PG-13
Rome, AD 303. Emperor Diocletian demotes his favourite, Sebastian, from captain of the palace guard to the rank of common soldier and banishes him to a remote coastal outpost where his fellow soldiers, weakened by their desires, turn to homosexual activities to satisfy their needs. Sebastian becomes the target of lust for the officer Severus, but repeatedly rejects the man's advances. Castigated for his Christian faith, he is tortured, humiliated and ultimately killed.
Director: Derek Jarman
Studio: Megalovision
Genre: Drama
Video: 720p
Cast
Leonardo Treviglio
as Sebastian
Barney James
as Severus
Neil Kennedy
as Max
Richard Warwick
as Justin
Donald Dunham
as Claudius
Ken Hicks
as Adrian
Reviews
There is something quite sensuous about this rather vulgar, raucous and unsubtle take on the martyrdom of St Sebastian. When there is any dialogue, it is in Latin which somehow adds to the mystery of the story. It's not anywhere near as graphic as you might expect, nor the sado-masechism as prevalent. It does border, frequently, on the comedic, though - perhaps not an effect Derek Jarman was seeking. Who plays whom in the film is academic, it is all about imagery and just about works at that.