Poster image from Sebastiane, Derek Jarman’s 1976 feature—an experimental reimagining of Saint Sebastian set in a sun-bleached Roman outpost and filmed entirely in Latin. The film’s stark visuals, homoerotic gaze, and minimalist narrative marked a turning point in queer cinema, presenting male desire on screen without disguise or euphemism at a time when such representation was nearly absent in commercial film.
Jarman’s approach blended art-house aesthetics with raw physicality: slow pacing, natural light, and an atmosphere that feels both ancient and modern. Over the years, Sebastiane has remained a touchstone for LGBTQ film history, known for its audacity, its imagery, and its refusal to soften its perspective for mainstream acceptance.
