Source: Vrt.be (In Dutch)
BELGIUM – BRUSSELS – ‘Pillion’ tells the story of a shy young man who is thrown headlong into a BDSM relationship with a charismatic motorcyclist. BDSM, wasn’t ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ about that too? Yes, but this film has everything the other one didn’t: authenticity, emotional depth, humor, and two men in the lead roles.
‘Pillion’ is another word for ‘the passenger sitting on the back of a motorcycle’ – I had to look it up too. In this case, that is Colin, a timid park ranger (played by Harry Melling ), who climbs on the back of Ray, a muscular motorcyclist in a leather suit ( Alexander Skarsgård ).
But he doesn’t just ride on the back of the motorcycle. At home, too, he adopts a submissive role. He cooks for Ray, does the laundry and takes care of the potty, and sleeps on a mat on the floor, while the dog is allowed in bed with him.
I hear you thinking: “Hello? Who does something like that voluntarily?” Well, he does it because Ray asks him to. Or rather: because he commands it. Colin simply has “an aptitude for devotion,” as Ray puts it: a natural disposition for devotion.
One thing is certain: ‘Pillion’ is a romantic comedy like you’ve never seen before. 3 reasons to go see it.
Reason 1
The film was a crowd favorite at festivals.
“An 8-minute standing ovation. Pedro Pascal jumping up. Members of the Gay Bikers Motorcycle Club (GBMCC) in leather suits hugging each other. Never seen anything like it.” That’s what a colleague who attended the premiere of ‘Pillion’ in Cannes told me. Unfortunately, I was sitting in a different theater.
After the screening, lead actors Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling went out with their friends from the London GBMCC, who also appear in the film, by the way. One of them put on his dog mask and crawled across the floor on his hands and knees.
“Beautiful to see at the most glamorous film festival in the world,” Skarsgård later told Variety. You can bet it was a wild party over there in Cannes, but my colleague was no longer there.
You walk out with a pounding heart and an urgent need for a pint and a good conversation. Lieven Van Gils
‘Pillion’ was also well-received at other festivals. It was named Best Film at the British Independent Film Awards.
Although there are also viewers who are left with an uncomfortable feeling after watching the film. Understandable, because BDSM isn’t for everyone. But that is exactly what ‘Pillion’ does: you walk out with a pounding heart and an urgent need for a pint and a good conversation.
Reason 2
‘Pillion’ is reminiscent of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, but 10 times better.
In ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, a fabulously wealthy businessman lures a young woman into his bedroom, where he seduces her into submitting to him. He dictates the rules she must respect. That has little to do with BDSM, where two partners enter into a division of roles with mutual consent. Here, we are dealing with abuse and manipulation. And the SM is primarily an excuse for a soft-erotic love story.
‘Pillion’ has everything ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ didn’t have. Lieven Van Gils
‘Pillion’, on the other hand, truly explores the dynamics of a BDSM relationship. We get to know members of the kink and queer community as they are: flesh-and-blood people, with desires and fantasies, but also with doubts and fears. ‘Pillion’ is raw and emotionally honest. And at the same time “one of the sweetest, sexiest and most tender films you will see this year,” according to The Independent.
I fully agree with that. And you wouldn’t expect it, but the film is also particularly funny. ‘Pillion’ has everything ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ didn’t have.
Reason 3
Alexander Skarsgård steps out of his comfort zone
A vampire (‘True Blood’), a Viking (‘The Northman’), a violent husband (‘Big Little Lies’), or Tarzan: these are all roles tailor-made for Alexander Skarsgård’s imposing figure.
Here, he ventures into something totally different. For instance, Ray and his biker friends jump into the river naked during a picnic, after which they have rough sex with their submissive partners on the bank.
Skarsgård wanted to portray the subculture of BDSM and gay motorcycle clubs as authentically as possible, and he succeeds brilliantly with Lieven Van Gils.
Skarsgård plays Ray with remarkable empathy. Without irony or hidden meanings. He wanted to portray the subculture of BDSM and gay motorcycle clubs as authentically as possible, and he succeeds brilliantly. Harry Melling (for many still Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter films) is also disarming as the submissive Collin, whose life takes an unexpected turn.
Seven out of ten Flemish people show interest in BDSM: “Pain can also be pleasurable”
“I am at a point in my career where I dare to say no to roles that don’t appeal to me, even if they are very well paid,” Skarsgård tells the LA Times. “I have to take advantage of that, because that wasn’t always the case and might not last.”
His father Stellan recently received his first Oscar nomination for ‘Sentimental Value’ at the age of 74. May Alexander continue to stubbornly choose challenging roles like this for a long time to come.
