Sebastian

Technically interesting film. That alone merits a rating of more than average in an age of mediocrity that uses hand-held cameras, poorly lit scenes, and mumbled scripts. As to plot, there is as well a nice touch in creating a writer who lives in his own fictional creation which in turn is a reflection of an ambiguous desire to give life to his true instincts. Or something like that. Although the "Sebastian" trope is an overdone cliché in gay fiction, it does support this film's recurrent dip into nudity. Indeed, showing older men as objects of passion fits the intent of the narrative very well. Beyond that I probably would not care to view it again.

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.

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.

A young writer explores sex workers circle for write a novel. But this adventure is not easy or cheep and, in profound manner, transforms him .

A not original theme , well reminded , well acted- especially Jonathan Hyde contribution represents a serious good point , realistic - the trace of a Julien Sorel in new version - and a good work of Ruaridh Mollica as Max.

In essence , a clash between editorial world and sex workers one , the reactions , the dialogue, the inspired last scene reminding, in cold - precise manner the laws of a confrontation who gives to young writer chance of significant transformation.

Great part - the relation with mother as oasis in the circle of chain of tensions.

The director and screenwriter of this film, Mikko Mäkelä, is only 35 years old, and this is not his first work; he has been making quality films in the industry for years.

The young actor Ruaridh Mollica, who delivers a very good performance in the lead role, is only 25 years old, and he has also been acting and writing in the industry for over a decade.

That such a profound film could come from two such young individuals... That's cinema, that's art.

"Sebastian," both the film and the character, is one of the most naive yet daring productions of 2024...

Sundance selections never disappoint.

Well, I've never used a sex worker in London so had no idea about the huge sums of money to be earned. £300 an hour! That's serious money. No wonder the impoverished students who formed the basis of Max's initial research got into the trade.

Max's odyssey through the world of escorts engendered tensions. He was earning huge sums while using the clients for his novel but also beginning to form relationships with some of them.

Max developed personally too in a different way. His initial reluctance to be known disappeared as we saw in the very last line of dialogue in the film.

I found the characters in the film to have been well rounded and believable. The script was well written and captured the world Max was living in extremely well.

I'm glad I saw this.