14 minutes to break your heart in the Colosseum. Ancient Rome has never been gayer or sadder.
A story of forbidden love. An LGBTQ drama set in Ancient Rome. Arena tells the incredible true story of adopted son of one of Rome's cruelest emperors who must choose between his life as the future ruler of the Ancient world or a love and friendship once forcefully forgotten.
Direction
Clohessy squeezes an epic into 14 minutes.
Production
Surprisingly lush period detail for short film budget.
Director
Myles Clohessy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Myles Clohessy directed, wrote, and starred, basically willing this queer Roman tragedy into existence through sheer hustle.
The film reclaims buried queer history—emperors like Hadrian had male lovers, but Hollywood usually straightwashes Rome.
US
