Ostia is a fascinating short film directed by Julian Cole and produced for the Royal College of Art, which reconstructs the events leading up to the murder of Pier Paolo Pasolini. Ostia relocates the proceedings to London and stars Derek Jarman as Pasolini. The film features an evocative dream sequence which is accompanied by poignant excerpts from Pasolini’s own poetry, as read by Jarman.
Acting
Jarman channels Pasolini with uncanny, fragile intensity.
Direction
Cole makes 26 minutes feel like a ghost's lifetime.
Sound
Pasolini's own poetry, read by Jarman—devastating.
Director
Julian Cole
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pasolini was murdered on November 2, 1975, at Ostia beach—his death was officially ruled a homicide by a single attacker, though conspiracy theories persist.
Jarman was already Britain's most visible queer filmmaker when he made this; his casting transforms elegy into prophecy.
US
GB
