Customer Reviews

Sebastiane

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In Sebastiane (1976), British writer/directors Derek Jarman (this was his first feature) and Paul Humfress created a remarkable historical film and a landmark of gay cinema. It depicts the martyred fourth century Roman soldier, who was later both canonized as Saint Sebastian and revered as an enduring gay icon. The film strikingly balances a cinéma vérité depiction of the everyday life of common soldiers and a visionary exploration of one man's defiant growth in faith, even as it subtly questions the nature of that experience. Despite its microscopic budget, it is a remarkably well designed, shot, edited, scored (Brian Eno's first film music), and acted picture. The Kino DVD transfer is very good, especially considering that the picture was originally shot in 16mm, then blown up to 35mm.

The film takes some liberties with the historical/legendary Sebastian, who was never exiled to a remote outpost, and incredibly who was supposed not to have died from the arrows with which he was famously shot - how Emperor Diocletian ordered him killed, and how the film ends - but rather from a second execution when he was clubbed to death. Although the film works brilliantly on many levels - cinematic, psychological, spiritual, aesthetic, even political - what may strike you first is the vividness and authenticity of the ancient world it depicts. Despite an over-the-top prologue at the glitteringly decadent court of Diocletian, and its strategic use of famous Renaissance paintings of St. Sebastian (by Mantegna, Reni, etc.) in the final scene, this film feels like lived experience.

Shot on location in Sardinia, every well-worn costume and dusty prop seems genuine. The dialogue is in the rough "street Latin" of its day (with English subtitles), but rather than feeling gimmicky it helps capture the texture of these nine banished soldiers' daily life. Its realism is in striking contrast to big-budget "sword and sandal" epics, from the Silent Era to the recent Gladiator, which always look too manufactured. In fact, its stylistic roots are more in the hyper-real mythic films of Pasolini, like Oedipus Rex and Medea.

From stills, you might think that the cast was chosen for their sculpted bodies. But each of these actors, even those in supporting roles, fully inhabits their characters and brings them to life. In particular, Leonardo Treviglio (seen most recently in Julie Taymor's film Titus) gives an intensely restrained, brilliantly nuanced performance in the title role. The constant ribbing and roughhousing among these nine men provides not only verisimilitude, but energy and unpretentiousness.

That is especially important, because the film deals with some dauntingly complex themes, as important now as 1,700 years ago, including the meaning of spirituality, the place of sexuality in life, and the contradictory nature of reality. The film's wild streak of humor, and its breathtaking visual design, help to keep this profoundly serious work from overdosing on "heaviosity."

The thematic core, as expected in a work about a man on the road to sainthood, is spirituality; and few films, including self-styled "religious movies," let one feel so deeply the growing importance of faith to an individual. Even some of the translated dialogue is beautiful, as when Sebastian, gazing at his and the sky's reflection in a pool of water, says that divinity is "That beauty that made all colors different.... The heavens and earth are united in gold." But while that vision of faith is powerful, it also has many layers, some of which are provocatively ambiguous. For some viewers, a central question will be: Is Sebastian a true Christian or is he a syncretist grafting his personal version of the new religion onto much older, Greco-Roman roots? The film offers different possible answers, not as a dodge, but because the film realizes how multi-faceted religious experience is, growing out of social, personal, and spiritual contexts.

It is also a landmark in the history of gay-themed films. Not only is this an authentic-seeming depiction of the ancient world, it is one in which a person's sexual orientation is not at all an issue. The guys jibe each other equally about their interest in Vestal Virgins, famous female prostitutes, and other men. In addition to this still-refreshing "backgrounding" of sexual orientation, the film depicts some of the most genuinely sweet and loving moments of any gay-themed film up to that time, especially in the budding relationship of the minor characters Adrian (whom the men tease about being a virgin) and Anthony.

And Sebastian's sadistically lovelorn nemesis, Captain Severus, is much more than a traditional "homosexual heavy," like the diabolical Claggart in Billy Budd. Severus (played by Barney James) has psychological depth, and seems to be equally divided between raw lust and genuine love for Sebastian. The film also takes a complex approach to him. For instance, the most visually beautiful and tender images of men are entirely from Severus's POV. And during the pivotal seduction scene near the end, Severus is shown as both monstrously brutal and beautiful, his hair ringed with golden light. That is exactly how Sebastian describes his vision of God, earlier in the film.

This is an exceptional film, deeply-felt, beautiful, and complex.

Derek Jarman's first film (made in 1976) is a visually gorgeous film featuring an all male cast in various states of undress. Even if you are not interested in debating whether or not the film truly follows the real life of St. Sebastiane or what views of religion Jarman is trying to project, you can appreciate the film for its unique visual style and celebration of the male body. Here we have gorgeous tanned ripped males running around the desolute landscape in nothing but sandals and thongs (and sometimes nothing at all). The camera in slow motion captures them bathing, frolicing in the surf, riding horses, fighting and making love. This is a highly sensuous film, sometimes violent but often tender and not for those offended by homoerotica. The dialog is in Latin with English subtitles but the dialog on the whole is minimal. The only extra features on the dvd include a brief narrative text about Jarman's life and his filmography. The picture quality is superb.

This was Derek Jarman's debut film, which he co-directed with Paul Humfress, who was a director at the BBC and was there to assist Jarman in case there were any problems (there were none). It's actually Jarman's most homoerotic movie. The dialogue is in Latin, and it was street Latin (or "dog" Latin), not proper Latin. Jarman was very specific about the speech because these soldiers were ruffians; they wouldn't be speaking the queen's Latin, so to speak. Many have found the famous painting of St. Sebastiane (which Jarman recreates at the end of the film) very homoerotic (Yukio Mishima famously said that it gave him an erection the first time he saw it), so Jarman indulges quite freely in the erotic aspects of the story. The film has a mythic sheen to it, and it is a film you will never forget. The opening scene at the Roman orgy is very memorable. Jarman started out as Ken Russell's production designer, and this orgy scene seems a homage to him. Brian Eno's eerie, electronic music (reminiscent of his ambient albums, like Music for Airports) really gives the film an another world feel.

This film is NOT for the easily offended. There are massive amounts of male nudity here, but it's shown as natural, which it is. Essential viewing for Jarman fans (or which I include myself).

After my initial dissapointment with Jarman's second film 'Jubilee', I was a bit hesitant to watch 'Sebastiane' but I'm glad I did because it shed some light on the nature and capabilities of this stage of Jarman's career - he was ambitious, bold, and very resourcefull - this is one of the finest low budget productions I have seen. This is the story of Sebastiane the man who died for his christian beliefs - but in this adaptation the focus is more on the homosexual tendencies of Roman military - it is almost a study in contrast the repression and solitiude of Sebastiane against the indulgences and vulgarity of Rome. There is also a beautiful soundtrack by Brian Eno.

Derek Jarman's 'Sebastiane' is a momentous painting which is simply brushed on film rather than canvas. This is a master work and should be in any serious film buff's cabinet. (I should very much like to see it running continuously upon a smooth stone wall of a monumental pillared vestibule - perhaps like the Four Seasons in New York. It's visual beauty should be constantly on view.

Not one element could be added or deleted. If I may continue the painting analogy, each stroke, whether finished or raw melds this work into a composition which I think is flawless. The men are beautiful, but in a tangible human manner. The settings, whether Diocletian's startling lurid palace or the rough bare terrain of Sardinia evoke both pagan and Christian motifs flawlessly. Good and evil (and all shades between) found in both places; the irony of the world as it is and has always been.

The homoerotic nature of the film is vicseral, candid rather than overtly condescending - it might well be set in modrn Iraq with 21st century troops. I felt each character's longings, whether for the god of carnal flesh or that of human love and companionship or a spiritual and other worldly deity. The recognituion that each of these forms of eros may entertwine and meld is genious. It is Everyman. It is a scrupulus portrait of the easily duplicit qualities of beauty, deceipt, brutality and even truth. Powerful stuff.

I must admit that I was very pleased to rediscover this movie remastered on DVD. I first rented the movie about twenty years ago. The plot is rather slow, but it has features that made it very appealing to me. It's an historical movie (the latter years of Saint Sebastian's life). It is one of the very first gay-themed movies showing male nudity. I do not agree with an X rating, and I remember when I first saw it as a kid, I was a bit disappointed regading the eroticism of this movie. Of course there is a homo-erotic tension, but again, much was left to our imagination. It was not exactly what a randy college student was looking for.

Luckily, things change and so do the spectacle with which we see and interpret things. The movie is definetely unique - a difficult and slow plot enriched by an often non eloquent dialogue in Latin (with English accent/pronunciation). The actors do not come from a theatre academy, but still appear to do well. It's a low budget movie, and yet the natural beauty of Sardinia (where the movie was filmed) adds to the somehow 'naturalistic' video.

It's an intellectual movie belonging to a somehow cognitive underground genre, which may please those who are attracted by a fusion of ancient cultures, peculiar erotocism, and still (by nature and cognition) have a progressive mindset.

.............but not, so much, for the mind.


DON'T MISUNDERSTAND,
this is a great film, but honestly speaking, I think this film is most notable simply as being a single product of
Derek Jarman's genius; not as being a distinctive masterwork, in itself. If you want to speak in terms
of advancement/positive representation in homosexually themed art,
this is the gold star winner. Otherwise, the visuals are the only thing that makes this movie noteworthy.

Jarman's Sebastiane is a genuine visual delight. Within this film lies a
remarkable portrait of the masculine condition (strength, weakness, beauty, intimidation, domination). The brute masculinity of the soldiers is smartly juxtaposed with the arid harshess of the desert in which they are exiled. As men void of females, they are like any other lifeform that is subjected
to the extremes of the desert: survive on what is provided or perish therein.

This lofty theme, however, is undermined by poor acting,
questionable historical references, and latin pronunciation (OH MY GOD, THE LATIN!!) that sounds like a Pig Latin translation
of a Shakespeare manuscript (my latin professor would have
gone into cardiac arrest after 2 minutes).

HOWEVER (!!!!)............................

NONE OF THIS takes away from the brilliance of this film. I actually believe this is one of the most beautiful films
ever made. There is surgical dilligence applied to the cinematography. Panoramic sweeps and simple elements like
close-ups of insects are used to give this movie a smooth, lyrical, and almost hallucinagenic effect.

But be aware,
this film is strictly for visual pleasure: the bodies, the desert panorama, etc. Any desire you may have for anything more profound will certainly go disappointed. A zealous attempt
was made to produce an intelligent film, but it failed in
delivery.This movie is a brilliant example of Jarman's sense of art.
It is not his best work, but at the same time, it is pleasing to watch.

Highly recommendable.

Sebastiane is a movie that you need to watch more than once to fully appreciate. It is visually stunning. The Sardinian landscape is shockingly sparse and bathed in a very harsh sunlight.

The Roman soldier/exiles are surviving but barely. Clearly, they have rations of wine and dreams of return. But they are all wasting away in this wasteland. They chew gum. They play Frisbee.

They chew gum? They play Frisbee?

Sebstiane is put to death for his Christian resistance, and what a peculiar Christianity it is. He worships a God which appears to be the Sun. Why, the movie begins in Rome on December 25th, the Festival day celebrating the birth of the Sun.

December 25th, the day of the birth of the Son?

On the Robin Rimbaud CD tribute to his friend Derek Jarman - The Garden is Full of Metal - Jarman's response to his critics who say his films make no sense is (in his own words and voice), "Who cares?" And, he's discussing this very movie, Sebastiane!

You get Brian Eno's music. You get Diocletian dripping with lapis. You get all these beautiful male torsos and relaxed nudity. Man, I loved it. "Who cares?"

if you're a fan of jarman, get this ; if you like art-house movies, get this ; if you're interested in male erotica, get this. i happened to be one of the above 3 groups of people and i love it. BTW, the quality of the vhs isn't that good as afterall it's a movie of some 15 years ago and I've heard that the dvd of Sebastiane will be released very soon.

It's been a number of years since I first viewed this movie as a video rental. I rented it a few times through the years although I found the quality of the video grainy and not particularly sharp the scenery is barren but stunning. I'd not viewed it in a number of years and decided to buy it when I saw it on sale and now on DVD. The viewing quality is much improved but be forewarned the DVD has been edited (which is disappointing). I'm planning to pass it on to friends. I still find it interesting, especially in study of Jarman's style through the years. I did find the new edits most disappointing. It's of course not a historically accurate film but for any serious film student or buff it is worth seeing once. I think I'd be more inclined to rent the video and not the DVD. I'd not buy it.