This film is a profane version of the martyrdom of Sebastian who, in AD 303, was banished by the Emperor Diocletian for his Christian sympathies to a remote outpost of the Roman Legion. The legend of Catholic mythology is here transformed into a psychological exploration of male sexuality with Sebastian as a homosexual icon. Jarman’s film was an innovative independent production for British cinema, its most unusual feature being its dialogue which is in Latin, thus avoiding the anachronisms and banalities of the dialogue in most historical films and the problems of deploying a multinational cast. The film was shot in just over three weeks in semi-improvisatory fashion. There is a subtext of Latin jokes and contemporary references. Cast includes Leonardo Treviglio, Barney James, Neil Kennedy and Richard Warwick. In Latin with English subtitles.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
316484
Languages
English
Latin
Audience classification
R (18+)
Subject categories
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Avant-garde (Aesthetics)
Advertising, Film, Journalism, Mass Media & TV → Religious films
Crafts & Visual Arts → Avant-garde (Aesthetics)
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Religious films
Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Saints
Family, Gender Identity, Relationships & Sexuality → Gay and lesbian studies
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Colour
Holdings
VHS; Access Print (Section 1)