Synopsis
Following his work with
Ken Russell as production designer on
The Devils,
Derek Jarman made his debut as a director with this story of the life of St Sebastian, the martyred roman soldier who was sent into exile and tortured. A poetic exploration of sexuality, the film is beautifully shot against a scorched desert landscape. The film earned a cult status after its release and when it was finally given a UK television broadcast 10 years later, its depiction of male nudity and graphic homoerotic content still proved controversial.
Sebastiane set the tone for Jarman's uncompromising, highly personal and original style of filmmaking.
