PILLION

The film sits closer to Peter Strickland’s THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY or Halina Reijn’s BABYGIRL than to the glossy fantasy of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY – and benefits from that distinction. In adapting Adam Mars-Jones’s novel, Lighton moves through taboo territory with remarkable ease, while asking sharper questions about desire, boundaries and the difficulty of communicating both.

Unlike the novel, PILLION unfolds in the present day, in the quiet suburban setting of Bromley. Colin (Harry Melling) is drifting through life without much excitement, closely supported by his parents. His routine is abruptly disrupted by Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a mysterious biker who draws him out of his comfort zone and into a world of sexual freedom. Leather, chains and submission become part of a relationship that initially seems to offer Colin both escape and fulfilment.

Lighton’s ambitions reach far beyond provocation. The film is sensual, funny and often sharply observed, but its real strength lies in its candid, non-judgemental depiction of a young gay man learning how to navigate desire, intimacy and power. The gay biker community is portrayed with similar care: members of the scene advised Lighton during development and also appear as non-professional performers, giving the film an added sense of authenticity.

The result is one of the more distinctive British debuts of recent years: playful, provocative and unusually assured. Its screenplay was awarded in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.

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Text: Michał Sołtysek