Sebastiane

Sebastiane

Directed by Paul Humfress, Derek Jarman

Produced by Megalovision, Cinegate

197686 min6.5 / 10

A bleak, erotically charged historical drama about religious persecution and desire, told with deliberate pacing and visual beauty amid systematic degradation and martyrdom.

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.

Questions people ask

  • Is Sebastiane sad? Yes, very. More sad than 96% of films.

  • Does Sebastiane end with hope? No. Less hopeful than 96% of films.

  • Is Sebastiane violent? Yes, very. More violent than 95% of films.

  • Is Sebastiane scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of films.

  • Is Sebastiane easy watching? Not especially. Less comforting than 74% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

51/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Familiar shape, done well.

Rarity90

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise28

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love45

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Sebastiane

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Sebastiane

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Sebastiane, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Sebastiane, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Sebastiane, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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