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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Guardian readers and Alfie Packham

‘A belter of a movie’: Guardian readers’ best films of 2025 so far

Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer and Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer in The Ballad of Wallis Island, standing on a beach with their backs to the sea
Tom Basden as Herb McGwyer and Carey Mulligan as Nell Mortimer in The Ballad of Wallis Island. Photograph: Focus Features (c) 2025 All Rights Reserved/PA

Sebastian

Sebastian is about an aspiring writer, Max, who lives a double life as a sex worker. It’s gritty and somewhat shocking, insofar as it’s not a highly discussed topic in film, yet it is also very tender. I watched it on a rainy Saturday afternoon without knowing anything about it. I was immediately hooked by how normal Max’s life was and intrigued by his decision to set up an online escort profile under the name of his alter ego, Sebastian, for the purpose of his novel, in which he details his varied sexual experiences. The film addresses issues such as shame, authenticity in fiction and consent with a refreshing lack of judgment on the topic of sex work. Ruaridh Mollica is fantastic as Max/Sebastian and I can’t wait to see him in more films. Ann-Marie, Glasgow

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