Sebastian does not want to be a homosexual. The 16-year-old has developed a crush on his best friend. The realization of his queerness has sent him into a rage. Sebastian: When Everybody Knows explores the anger stage of the coming out process. Most queer YA media reserves this stage for closeted bullies. Their protagonists are winsome lads who enjoy romantic bike rides or moonlight swims. Sebastian has a rockier road to self-acceptance.
Let’s take a look in this spoiler filled recap.
Act One: Anger
Scene One: A street in Arvika, Sweden
SEBASTIAN (16 and angry): I’m not gay. I’m not gay. I’m not gay.
ULF (Sebastian’s bro-ey best friend): Yo dude! What’s up?
SEBASTIAN: DAMN IT!
ULF: Let’s wrestle!
SEBASTIAN: That’s gay.
ULF: Whoa dude. Don’t be homophobic.
Scene Two: A Restaurant
MOM: What’s wrong?
SEBASTIAN: NOTHING’S WRONG! YOU’RE SO STUPID!
MOM: You’ve been grumpy for weeks. Are you on drugs?
SEBASTIAN: I have to go to the bathroom.
(Sebastian climbs out the bathroom window and flees the restaurant.)
MOM: Get back here!
(Sebastian runs his bike off a pier into a lake. Then slowly drags it to shore.)
Scene Three: Sebastian’s House
SEBASTIAN: My parents are out! Let’s trash the place!
ULF: Cool dude!
SEBASTIAN: What a mess. Let’s take a bubble bath together!
ULF: Cool dude!
SEBASTIAN: Let’s make out! (Kisses him.)
ULF: Whoa Whoa Whoa! Not cool dude! (Ulf leaves.)
SEBASTIAN: DAMN IT!
Act Two: Depression
Scene Four: Later That Night
DAD: You and your boyfriend trashed the place.
SEBASTIAN: He’s not my boyfriend.
DAD: But you love him?
SEBASTIAN: I think so. Are you going to throw me out?
DAD: You watch too many rotten movies.
MOM: It’s fine. We’re fine. (Mom cries.)
Scene Five: A Park
SEBASTIAN: Sorry.
ULF: We’re cool. You gay bro?
SEBASTIAN: I think so. You bro?
ULF: Nah. But I fooled around with a dude once.
SEBASTIAN: Great. My straight friend has more experience than I do.
Act Three: Acceptance
Scene Six: Babysitting
SEBASTIAN: Time for bed.
ULF’s KID SISTERS: No!
SEBASTIAN: I’ll tell you a story. (Fast forward) And then the wolf ate Red Riding Hood’s Granny.
ULF’S KID SISTERS: WAAAAH!!!
SEBASTIAN’s EX-GIRLFRIEND: How about a happier story? (Fast forward) And then the Little Match Girl froze to death.
ULF’S KID SISTERS: Meh. (The kids fall asleep.)
Scene Seven: Everybody
SEBASTIAN’s EX-GIRLFRIEND: Our friends saw you cruising at the docks. We’re cool with it.
SEBASTIAN: Thanks. It was pretty slim pickings.
DAD (shirtless): Mom and I have adjusted to your coming out. We’re cool with it.
SEBASTIAN (also shirtless): Thanks Dad. But this scene is pornier than it should be.
ULF: Let’s save money from our summer jobs and take a road trip.
SEBASTIAN: That sounds great. Now that everybody knows, life can really begin.
THE END
It’s Fine. Everybody’s Fine.
Okay, that’s it then. I’m gay. Lot’s of people are gay, or so I’ve heard. Damn it all. Do you have to be gay just because you happened to kiss your best friend?
Sebastian
Sebastian credits three screenwriters (Hansi Mandoki, Petter Vennerod and director Svend Wam) and a novel by Per Knutsen. Wam was known for his dark dramas tackling social issues. Sebastian is one of his lighter entries. The films’ tension comes from Sebastian’s internalized homophobia. Once he comes out he’s immediately accepted. It’s a nice thought but it means the film loses all conflict in the second half. Sebastian doesn’t yet realize that he’s gorgeous. Once he’s old enough to visit Oslo’s gay bars he’ll clean up.
I’m interested in the father’s line that Sebastian’s seen “too many rotten movies.” Queer cinema till that point had been focused on adults. Would a Norwegian teen have watched Greg Araki’s Totally F***ed Up? Or After-School Specials like Two of Us and Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn? Had he longed for Ricky on My So Called Life or Ryan Phillippe’s beleaguered gay teen on One Life to Live? Teen representation was rare. Sebastian wouldn’t have to wait much longer. The late 90’s would see the releases of films like Beautiful Thing, F***ing Amal, Get Real, Lilies, My Life in Pink and The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love. By the 2000’s queer youth would have a small library to choose from. By then Sebastian would be an adult.
You can find more of my reviews on The Avocado, Letterboxd and Serializd. My podcast, Rainbow Colored Glasses, can be found here.