Derek Jarman's feature film debut is an impressive effort that is as steamy and homoerotic as a biblical tragedy can get. Filmed entirely in what is referred to as "vulgar Latin", 'Sebastiane' inserts into the classic Bible story heavy overtones of homosexual love and lust, something not too shocking for a filmmaker like Jarman to do considering the rest of his career.
The opening sequence is definitely the highlight for me. It's definitely the strangest moment in the film; it is very Felliniesque and has an eye-popping and colorful quality that is not returned to later in the film. It is broadly bizarre stuff, but very funny and mildly humorous. And, speaking of humour, I will have to bring myself to comment upon how unexpectedly funny this film is. It's awfully sad, too, of course, by the end it is a straight-up tragedy, but throughout there are funny moments. Much of them come through the ribald and over-the-top senses of humour some of the characters possess and express w/great enthusiasm and energy. Some scenes made me genuinely laugh out loud, helping add to the watchability of this really slow and, for the majority of its runtime, somewhat uneventful film. The film is at its strongest in its earlier and later sections. During the middle of the movie, it is still well crafted and still carries many great elements, but it's also occasionally somewhat boring and I was only half-paying attention during a few scenes. However, the film is soon able to pick up speed, and by the end it has had an actual emotional impact. It is beautifully shot, too, despite its shoestring budget essentially all technical aspects of the film are gorgeously done, the cinematography and score especially. The score is by none other than Brain Eno, and his synth-heavy sounds here contrast w/the historical setting brilliantly, adding even more atmosphere to a film already heavy on atmosphere.
The opening sequence is definitely the highlight for me. It's definitely the strangest moment in the film; it is very Felliniesque and has an eye-popping and colorful quality that is not returned to later in the film. It is broadly bizarre stuff, but very funny and mildly humorous. And, speaking of humour, I will have to bring myself to comment upon how unexpectedly funny this film is. It's awfully sad, too, of course, by the end it is a straight-up tragedy, but throughout there are funny moments. Much of them come through the ribald and over-the-top senses of humour some of the characters possess and express w/great enthusiasm and energy. Some scenes made me genuinely laugh out loud, helping add to the watchability of this really slow and, for the majority of its runtime, somewhat uneventful film. The film is at its strongest in its earlier and later sections. During the middle of the movie, it is still well crafted and still carries many great elements, but it's also occasionally somewhat boring and I was only half-paying attention during a few scenes. However, the film is soon able to pick up speed, and by the end it has had an actual emotional impact. It is beautifully shot, too, despite its shoestring budget essentially all technical aspects of the film are gorgeously done, the cinematography and score especially. The score is by none other than Brain Eno, and his synth-heavy sounds here contrast w/the historical setting brilliantly, adding even more atmosphere to a film already heavy on atmosphere.