| Sebastiane
by Derek Jarman. A piece of gay film history from
1976. Roman soldiers slow-mo kiss in a film of the
life of Saint Sebastian. To be shown on television
the censors wanted Jaman to cut a love scene that
had a quick shot of...
an
erection... To fix it he had the new tape made in
wrong aspect ratio, cropping the image so the censors
couldn't see it.
After
the censors approved it, Jarman sent the uncropped
version to the network and it aired.
The
film is set in a Roman military outpost. The intensely
homosocial environment allows the men to engage with
one another physically and sexually.
Derek
Jarman's work in film is extensive and his influence
far reaching.
He was a pioneer of music video in England. Directing
The Smiths "Panic" (a sequence from his
short film "The Queen is Dead" featuring
songs by The Smiths) and Pet Shop boys "it's
a Sin" and "Rent" to name a few.
He
was the director of Pet Shop Boys 1989 tour. By pop
concert standards this was a highly theatrical event
with costume and specially shot films accompanying
the individual songs.
He
was a gay rights and AIDS awareness activist, a painter
and a writer. He also had a really cute cottage.
He
worked until his death in 1994.
His last film was Glitterbug (1994) soundtrack by
Brain Eno.
Look for the documentary Derek (2008): a biography
of the life and work of Jarman, directed by Isaac
Julien, narrated by Tilda Swinton.
- Tues Apr 14 09
GAY
VIDEO BLOG / WAYOUTWEST.TV
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