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Mikko Mäkelä

Sebastian

Director Mikko Mäkelä Composer Ilari Heinilä Cast Ruaridh Mollica, Hiftu Quasem, Jonathan Hyde
Edition 2024
110' - 2024 - Drama - Format: DCP - Dialogue: French, English

Freelance writer Max leads a double life as a sex worker in London in search of inspiration for his first novel. His encounters with countless men have repercussions for his self-esteem, causing the wholesome boy next door to soon feel the ground falling from underneath his feet. Mikko Mäkelä's second film is an unflinching study of the balance between self-exploration and self-exploitation.

Max, a young writer desperate to see his work published, finds himself navigating the fringes of society as he adopts the alias "Sebastian" on the escort platform Dreamy Guys. In Finnish filmmaker Mikko Mäkelä's latest work, the protagonist's struggles are driven by inner demons - his relentless quest for validation and the shame tied to his homosexuality propel him into increasingly risky encounters. The film, like Mäkelä’s acclaimed A Moment in the Reeds (2017), reflects a nuanced exploration of identity and desire within the queer experience. What sets Sebastian apart is its refusal to conform to the typical narratives around sex work in cinema. Instead of falling into a familiar spiral of despair, Mäkelä charts a more complex trajectory. Max’s life may be riddled with reckless choices and professional setbacks, but the film is underpinned by a strikingly hopeful vision. By offering a glimmer of redemption, Mäkelä subverts the conventions of how sex work and queer identity are often portrayed on screen. The result is a bold and emotionally resonant piece of auteur cinema, rich with psychological depth and cultural insight, proving that Mäkelä’s voice remains one to watch on the international stage.

Image gallery

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Credits

Directors

Mikko Mäkelä

Composers

Ilari Heinilä

Cast

Ruaridh Mollica, Hiftu Quasem, Jonathan Hyde

Scenario

Mikko Mäkelä

Director of Photography

Iikka Salminen

Editors

Mikko Mäkelä, Arttu Salmi

Producers

James Watson

Co producers

Aleksi Bardy, Ciara Barry, Rosie Crerar, Erik Glijnis, Severi Koivusalo, Leontine Petit, Dries Phlypo

Production studios

Finnish Impact Film Fund, Lemming Film, Helsinki Filmi Oy

Distributor

September Film Belgium

More info

Dialogue

French, English

Countries of production

Belgium, Finland, United Kingdom

Year

2024

Filmography

Mikko Mäkelä
A Moment in the Reeds (2017), Palvelus (short, 2022), Nothing Special (short, 2023), Sebastian (2024)

Technical Specs

Format
DCP