Derek Jarman. Sebastiane

In collaboration with The National Museum of Art, Architecture & Design, Kunstnernes Hus Cinema is screening Derek Jarman’s Sebastiane (1976), a homoerotic retelling of the story of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian. The screening will be followed by a conversation about St. Sebastian as a gay icon.

About the filmmaker

Derek Jarman (1942–1994) was a British filmmaker, artist, writer and gay rights activist. Within his lifetime, he was known for being bold, daring and innovative, thanks to films such as Sebastiane (1976), Jubilee (1978), Caravaggio (1986) and Wittgenstein (1993). In addition to feature films, Jarman also produced short films and music videos for, amongst others, The Smiths.

Jarman died of AIDS at the age of 52.

About the film

Sebastiane (1976), Jarman’s first feature film, is a retelling of the story of the martyrdom of St. Sebastian. The film was controversial for its mix of religiosity and eroticism, for featuring dialogue entirely in Latin, and for its depiction of masculinity and masochism.

Motstrøms

Motstrøms is a series of films at The National Museum, showcasing bold, innovative and entertaining films that move between traditional cinema and art. Throughout 2022, the programme will feature pioneers of queer cinema and showcase films and video by or about artists.  

Queer Culture Year 2022

"Motstrøms" is a part of The National Museum’s program for Queer Culture Year 2022. Queer Culture Year 2022 celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Norway.