Sebastiane (1976)

Filmed entirely in vulgar Latin, this experimental film recounts the life of Sebastian (Leonardo Treviglio), a puritanical but beautiful Christian soldier in the Roman Imperial troops who is martyred when he refuses the homosexual advances of pagan Captain Severus (Barney James). It depicts the 4th century Roman soldier, who was later canonized as Saint Sebastian, as a revered gay icon. The film balances a cinéma vérité depiction of the everyday life of common soldiers and a visionary exploration of one man's defiant growth in faith, even as it subtly questions the nature it. But the film takes some liberties with the historical Sebastian, who was never exiled to a remote outpost, and was supposedly not killed by arrows. Emperor Diocletian (Robert Medley) ordered him killed with a second execution and he was clubbed to death. Historical facts are only a backdrop, serving the filmmakers' intention of presenting the other well known aspect of Sebastian's claim to fame: his link to homoeroticism and sadomasochism. How this relation came about historically is unclear. Some stories have it that Sebastian was homosexual himself. Others that he had to refuse the emperor's advances on the grounds of his Christian faith.

When this film was released, it was the only English-made film to have required English subtitles. "Sebastiane" works brilliantly on many levels: cinematic, psychological, spiritual, aesthetic, and political. The vividness and authenticity of the ancient world it depicts is striking. Despite an over-the-top prologue at the decadent court of Diocletian, and its strategic use of famous Renaissance paintings of St. Sebastian in the final scene, this film feels like a lived experience. Shot on location in Sardinia, every well-worn costume and dusty prop seems genuine. This film deals with some complex themes, as important now as 1,700 years ago, including the meaning of spirituality, the place of sexuality in life, and the contradictory nature of reality. Brian Eno composed the music, and Derek Jarman wrote the screenplay and directed this self-indulgent debut feature.

Une Amour Ataire (2006)

"Une Amour Ataire" tells the story of Sara Morgenstern (Louise Monot) and Jean (Jérémie Renier), close friends from childhood who meet again years later during the Nazi occupation of Paris. Sara, who is Jewish, sees her parents and sister killed by the Gestapo after being double-crossed by someone who was paid to safeguard them, and seeks out Jean, the only other person she knows in Paris. Jean, now in his late 20's, works for his family-owned laundry business, and is secretly in a four year relationship with his boyfriend Phillipe (Bruno Todeschini), who is involved in the French underground. The gay couple must keep their relationship a secret for fear of persecution. Phillipe gets Sara a new identity, and Jean gets her a job in the laundry. When Jean's brother Jacques (Nicolas Gob) is released from prison on a smuggling charge, he is attracted to Sara, and first sees Jean as competition for her affections. When he finds out that Jean is gay, he arranges for one of his smuggler contacts to have him detained for an evening by the police, then get released due to his "connections", thinking that would make both Jean and Sara indebted to him. This backfires when Jean's sexuality becomes known, and Sara watches in horror as her homosexual protector is sent off to prison and eventually a Nazi concentration camp as a tragic result of a bad decision made by Jacques. Things start to fall apart at home.

This highly emotional and engrossing film is about family, friends and love, at a time in history when there was little else one could depend on. There is little actual violence in the film, yet the sense of danger is ever present. The violence that is portrayed is graphic and and based on actual events documented by survivors of the gay holocaust. An expertly crafted movie, the cinematography is excellent, and well acted by a talented cast. It's a bit melodramatic, with a multi-layered complex twisting plot. Charles Court composed the music. Pascale Fontanille and Samantha Mazeras wrote the screenplay. Directed by Christian Fauré. The English title is "A Love to Hide". In French with English subtitles.