Sequin in a Blue Room is an Australian coming-of-age drama film released in 2019. It was written and directed by Samuel Van Grinsven in his feature directorial debut. The film features Conor Leach as Sequin, the film's protagonist, alongside Simon Croker, Edwin Hodgeman, and Jeremy Lindsay Taylor.
The film starts with Sequin (Conor Leach) as a high school student who spends his nights on anonymous dating apps looking for hookups with strangers. He's a smooth talker and is skilled at getting what he wants, but he never gets attached to anyone emotionally. He's content with the superficial thrill of sex with strangers, rather than seeking meaningful connections. However, after going to a well-organized anonymous sex party, Sequin becomes obsessed with finding a particular stranger with whom he had an intimate encounter. Sequin starts to frequent such parties often, trying to find the man from his one-night stand, and in the process, he meets other people with whom he forms deep connections.
The film delves into the complexities of navigating life as a gay teen in a digital age while trying to understand one's own sexuality and identity. Sequin is a complex character with multiple layers and a deep yearning for intimacy that he can't seem to find in the short-lived hook-ups he usually seeks. The film also explores issues of privacy and the dangers associated with anonymous encounters.
The movie was screened at the Sydney Film Festival and Melbourne International Film Festival, where it garnered critical acclaim, with praise directed towards the performance of Conor Leach and its visually stunning cinematography. The film was also nominated for the prestigious Platform Prize at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.