SEBASTIAN: The Subtle Power of Intimacy

The year is 2018 and queer love stories are becoming more and more prominent. Transcending any one genre, these stories are filled with craving and yearning, with humor and delicacy. Sebastian, the debut from James Fanizza (read our interview with Fanizza here), is an intimate portrayal of queer love. Focused on a relationship that initially begins as a one-week fling between Alex (Fanizza) and Argentinian medical student Sebastian (Alex House), Sebastian soon becomes an ode to loving recklessly and passionately.

On its surface, Fanizza’s film may seem simple – after all, without many supporting characters or unnecessary subplots, what we are left with is a story of two men. One, afraid to commit and to accept his feelings, the other, knowing that time is ticking and in a matter of days, he will be gone. Together, they forge a bond and disclose their deepest thoughts. And what we come to learn is that the story is anything but simple. It is rich and layered, nuanced and filled with emotion. It is fundamentally a tale about human connection.

Just the Two of Us

Alex is an artist who has reached an impasse in his life. He feels as though he is a stuck in a rut – caught in a relationship with someone he feels nothing toward. However, when he meets his boyfriend’s cousin, Sebastian, there is an instant attraction. Their initial encounters are awkward and filled with uncomfortable silences. Alex and Sebastian talk over one another at times, but there is always a spark between them. However, they both know that their brief fling will not amount to anything but a fling – after all, is it really love after only a few short days?

Fanizza’s film works because you can feel the investment he has in this project. Alex and Sebastian are developed characters; they have rich backstories that they slowly begin to disclose to one another. Sebastian studies medicine – in particular, HIV research. He comes from a conservative household that do not seem to support him being gay. Alex, on the other hand, closes himself off to the world. He resists temptation or anything that might put him in a compromising position – making his relationship with Sebastian even more meaningful.

The film is defined by its relationship between Alex and Sebastian. Most of the scenes include them interacting with one another. Sometimes, these scenes include talking about their past, which requires each to be vulnerable. Other times, though, scenes fly by because the two are simply bantering. One crucial scene positions the two in bed, and in one continuous shot, they discuss how their relationship is eerily similar to The Bridges of Madison County. It’s a humorous, light-hearted moment, but one that allows these two men to feel comfortable with one another, to talk simply as two men flirting would.

But You Gotta Have Friends

That is not to say, of course, that Sebastian limits itself to these two characters. Both Alex and Sebastian have friends and family who support and listen to them. Because, even though the film soars when the two interact, they are still individuals defined by their own experiences. Sebastian is staying with his aunt (Amanda Martinez) – another member of his family who feels ostracized. They form a bond built off that mutual respect.

She knows what it feels like to be different and to be the black sheep – and what is especially refreshing about their relationship is that Sebastian’s homosexuality is never a point of contention. It is never something he has to disclose to her. It is accepted as a part of who he is. She listens to his relationship woes and provides solace when he cannot make a decision for himself.

Meanwhile, Alex seeks comfort from his best friend Xenia (Brian “Katya” McCook). Whether in or out of drag, Xenia is the hilarious counterpart and foil to Alex’s pessimism. McCook, famous for his television personality of Katya from RuPaul’s Drag Race, finds the perfect balance of humor, wit, and kindness with his character. Xenia steals every scene he is in – seducing Sebastian at a drag show, giving Alex advice, or offering a humorous quip to make light of any situation. Sebastian’s ensemble is small, but certainly mighty. And because of Fanizza’s clear investment in the project, he gives each of these characters space to breathe and to grow.

The Joy and Melancholy of Endings

As Alex and Sebastian grow closer to one another, they have to begin to accept reality. First, Alex is sleeping with his boyfriend’s cousin. And second, Sebastian is leaving in a matter of days to go back home. Their week-long affair has them caught up in a swirl of different conflicting emotions, and by the film’s end, they have to reckon with these feelings. Their conversations are packed with intimate and quiet moments, and that is because the film is ultimately intimate and quiet itself. There are no explosions, no cascading emotions that build up and are released. In this way, Sebastian feels refreshing – it is a film comprised of the little moments that lead us to love. It is heartfelt and honest.

The film is bookended with the same scene. It consists of Alex and Sebastian arriving at the airport, assumedly their last chance to say goodbye to one another. It is a startling first scene – indicating that the end of their relationship is always in plain sight. Still, though, by the film’s final scene (even though you know it is coming), you want nothing more than for these two men to be together.

Sebastian: Conclusion

The magic of Fanizza’s writing and direction here is that he does not attempt to spell out an ending for his audience – instead, he is giving us the opportunity to project our own experiences onto this story and come to our own conclusions. Understandably frustrating, it also speaks to the very nature of humanity. It is messy and complicated, and we do not always know what comes next. Still, though, we push on – and with any luck, will find opportunity around the corner.

Sebastian is currently available to rent and buy digitally and on DVD.