Sebastian

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1h 50m

Drama

LGBTQ+

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for Sebastian: Trailer 1

List

72%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

67%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Max (Ruaridh Mollica) is a 25-year-old aspiring novelist, living in London and paying his dues working at a literary magazine. Frustrated by his own ambitions and the pressures to succeed, Max begins moonlighting as a sex worker with the pseudonym Sebastian, secretly meeting men via an escorting platform and using his experiences to fuel his stories. What begins as a few furtive meetings soon becomes a hidden nocturnal life, and the debut novel that he has been longing to write finally seems within reach. Finding himself more comfortable as Sebastian than expected, yet determined to keep his exploits a secret, Max increasingly struggles to remain in control of a delicately balanced double-life. As he confronts conflicting feelings of ecstasy, shame, and exhilarating liberation, Max has to reckon with whether Sebastian is merely a writer's tool to achieve first-hand authenticity -- or whether something more is at stake.

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Critics Consensus

Mollica compels as a young man caught between two lives and his performance elevates Sebastian, a provocative if uneven story that explores an artist's quest to find inspiration and authenticity in the name of art.

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Manuel Betancourt

Los Angeles Times

With its keen, sensual eye, “Sebastian” makes its portrait of an artist as a young sex worker brim with pained authenticity about how fleeting and seemingly transactional intimacies remain rife sites of exploration for queer writers.

Aug 12, 2024

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Bob Mondello

NPR

British character actor Jonathan Hyde is understated and dignified as the editor who gets past Max's defenses, while relative newcomer Ruaridh Mollica lets you see every chink in Max's armor just before a piece of that armor falls away.

Aug 9, 2024

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J. Kim Murphy

Variety

Despite the film’s confident naturalism, it seems less intimate as it goes on, with Max somehow growing more distant and generic as he becomes more comfortable in his own skin.

Aug 5, 2024

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Eric Langberg

Everything's Interesting

Ruaridh Mollica is tremendous as Max and even more compelling as Sebastian, and it’s all in the way he holds or breaks eye contact.

Aug 11, 2024

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

I quite liked the director’s 2017 prior feature A Moment in the Reeds, a raw, deeply felt gay romance between a Finnish youth and a Syrian refugee. This English-language followup is much more polished, but feels titillating in familiar ways.

Aug 7, 2024

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Finnish filmmaker Mikko Makela finds layers of meaning, frankly exploring a range of moral questions. And while a couple of big plot points feel somewhat jarring and even distracting, the drama itself is internalised and gripping.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 6, 2024

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Cristal

I liked the movie. Maybe a bit too long.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/13/24

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david m

I really enjoyed this film. It took me by surprise. I wasn't sure what it was going to be about. But it turned out to be such a great experience. It's hard to find films like this especially with queer Cinema. But this was such a great story and it was really well written. And the acting was very good and the way it was shot was beautiful. I was moved. Highly recommend for audiences seeking out good queer cinema.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/10/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A Captivating Canvas in Mollica! In the vibrant world of art, where dreams come alive, Mollica compels, a film that will thrive! With a young man caught in a whirlwind of strife, He dances between two worlds, finding meaning in life. Sebastian’s the name, and what a delight, His performance is soaring, taking flight! An artist on a quest for inspiration grand, Navigating the chaos with brush in hand. The story unfolds with a provocative flair, Exploring the heart of what artists must bear. For authenticity, he reaches, he strives, In the name of true art, where passion derives. The visuals dazzle, a feast for the eyes, With colors and textures that sparkle and rise. Each frame is a canvas, a masterpiece bright, Bringing Sebastian's journey into the light. While the plot may be uneven, it wades through the waves, As emotions run deep, and the heart truly craves. Moments of laughter, and then tears that will flow, A beautiful struggle, allowing us to grow. The cast is a gem, with talent that shines, They breathe life into characters, crossing the lines. With chemistry flowing like colors that blend, This film’s like a journey with art as your friend. So if you seek inspiration and stories that sing, Mollica is a treasure, a bold offering! With whimsy and heart in every heartfelt scene, You’ll leave feeling uplifted, refreshed, and serene. So grab your companions and dive into this art, For Mollica will capture and play on your heart! A journey of wonder, creativity’s spark, In the world of cinema, it truly hits the mark!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/24

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Mikko Mäkelä

Director

Ruaridh Mollica

Max

Hiftu Quasem

Amna

Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson

Daniel

Lara Rossi

Claudia

Leanne Best

Dionne

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Sebastian: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Max (Ruaridh Mollica) is a 25-year-old aspiring novelist, living in London and paying his dues working at a literary magazine. Frustrated by his own ambitions and the pressures to succeed, Max begins moonlighting as a sex worker with the pseudonym Sebastian, secretly meeting men via an escorting platform and using his experiences to fuel his stories. What begins as a few furtive meetings soon becomes a hidden nocturnal life, and the debut novel that he has been longing to write finally seems within reach. Finding himself more comfortable as Sebastian than expected, yet determined to keep his exploits a secret, Max increasingly struggles to remain in control of a delicately balanced double-life. As he confronts conflicting feelings of ecstasy, shame, and exhilarating liberation, Max has to reckon with whether Sebastian is merely a writer's tool to achieve first-hand authenticity -- or whether something more is at stake.

Director: Mikko Mäkelä
Producer: James Robert Benjamin Watson
Screenwriter: Mikko Mäkelä
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Lemming Film België, Good Chaos, Finnish Impact Film Fund, Bêtes Sauvages, Barry Crerar, Helsinki Filmi Oy
Genre: Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2024
Box Office (Gross USA): $49.9K
Runtime: 1h 50m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)