fl1

A queer writer and sex worker finds his own story and voice, hands-on.

"Sebastian" addresses issues such as shame, authenticity in fiction, consent and work-life balance with a gentle touch. The power asymmetry in sex work is shown with a simple plot device which is effective without being crude. The right of sex workers to tell their own story is stressed by the narrative structure itself until the climax in the very last scene which wraps it all up nicely.

Seen at HIFF, where it was very well received by the audience. The director told us his original inspiration from the London queer community while he studied there.

You could watch this film just for the eye candy, or for the literary quotations, or for the art exhibits; but don't expect soft porn or high poetry, you won't find such excitements. Most of the time the scenes are too dark anyway.

I think this is a story of continuous meaningless deaths, of people who get bonded by them, of incompatible relations, and of desperate attempts to make sense of all this.

Two orphans are in love, but live and have sex with others; two sex dates love him but are not loved back. When a kid loves him as a father, and is loved back, everyone makes their choices at last, but the solution is too good to be true...