Review of the film Pillion by Harry Lighton – a sentimental education with a drop-dead gorgeous gay Alexander Skarsgård
For his first feature film, director Harry Lighton makes a strong impact with Pillion. The pitch is undeniably very appealing for any gay since it promises the meeting of a shy young man who will experience his first great romance with a man, a biker gang leader and dominator, who will initiate him into submission. And it is Alexander Skarsgård who plays the dom!
A singular duo: Colin and Ray
The shy boy is Colin (Harry Melling). He is actually a little more than shy. He seems completely in his own world, a bit autistic, lost, not very socially comfortable. He is like an old bachelor before his time and plays in a somewhat folkloric music group with a little costume. He still lives with his parents, doesn’t have many friends and has a limited social life… and one can guess that he has little or no experience with men. What a surprise when he senses an opening with Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a magnificent and ultra-charismatic man. But Ray is not like the others. He is an ultra macho dominator who is only looking for a submissive. For him the mind is more important than physical beauty. And he sees in Colin a potential for docility.
An iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård
What an iconic role for Alexander Skarsgård who has never been so beautiful on screen. He and the director go all in and the magnificent blond actor looks like the ultimate embodiment of a deviant Prince as imagined by Tom of Finland. In every shot, his beauty and authority radiate from the screen. Impossible not to burn with desire or be disturbed by him. And the dialogues play several times at winking at this unreal beauty which strongly contrasts with Colin’s ordinary and unassertive appearance.
A sentimental education above all
The film surprises, it is not what one might have imagined – a destructive and kinky gay passion with a domination/submission backdrop. Pillion is above all the story of a sentimental education. Colin, inexperienced, will discover love in a singular way at the same time as his attraction to rather cerebral BDSM practices. Ray will be his first, his initiator, leading him to understand through their relationship what he likes, what he dislikes, how far he is willing to go.
An improbable and endearing couple
The whole appeals for its improbable couple, for its dive without judgment into the intimacy of a budding couple where the dominant/submissive relationship is central. Ray is a total macho, a strict, demanding, unfathomable man. For him being a dominator is not just a bubble of fun from time to time. He lives as a dominator and never leaves his role. He spends his free time with a small group of biker friends where other dominators have their designated submissive.
The viewer adopts Colin’s gaze and dives with him into his blazing passion for Ray, a man about whom he ultimately knows very little. We know that he has money, that he doesn’t like to talk much and that he likes to be obeyed in intimacy but otherwise he remains very taciturn and secretive.
BDSM and intimacy: a respectful approach
Dominant-submissive relationships and BDSM can have this magical aspect that makes reality alter when you live them, like the sensation of being introduced into another world, both highly coded and cathartic, liberating. It is evident that the director knows the subject well and treats it with respect and tenderness. We do not fall into the sordid, there are many cute and funny breaths, playing on the contrast between these two main characters, their so opposite worlds, with some really successful situational comedy scenes.
A possible love?
But is Ray really a man one can fall in love with? Is he capable of loving? Can Colin hope to become his lover as well as his submissive? This is the little suspense of the film which will ultimately turn out to be more the portrait of the rise of a submissive (the last part, which may evoke Clouzot’s cult film The Prisoner, shows the flaws and limits of the subjugating Ray).
A singular and striking film
Very beautifully directed, highly endearing and profoundly unique, Pillion is a little independent gem that will leave a mark in Alexander Skarsgård’s filmography and will certainly touch an audience curious to discover relationships outside the frame.
Film presented in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival 2025
No French release date yet, potential screenings in most LGBT Film Festivals
Comments
I found the portrayal of Colin intriguing, especially how his shy and somewhat isolated nature contrasts with Ray's dominant charisma. It seems like the film explores a complex dynamic beyond just romance, which makes it feel more genuine and layered.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost isolated character and Ray’s dominant presence really intriguing. It seems the film delves into some complex emotional territory, especially with Colin’s social struggles and how that dynamic unfolds with Ray. It’s refreshing to see a story that explores submission beyond just surface-level attraction.
I was really intrigued by the way you described Colin, especially how he's portrayed as almost out of sync with the world around him. The dynamic between him and Ray sounds intense, and I think the casting of Skarsgård as such a commanding presence is an interesting choice.
I’m intrigued by the dynamic between Colin and Ray, especially since Colin is described as almost living in his own world and Ray is so forceful. The idea of Alexander Skarsgård as a biker gang leader feels like a bold casting choice, but I can see how it might work given his intensity.
I was intrigued by how you described Colin as not just shy, but almost isolated and out of step with everyone around him. The dynamic between him and Ray sounds intense, especially with Skarsgård playing such an imposing figure. I'm curious how the film balances that power dynamic without tipping into cliché.
I was really struck by the way Colin is described—a shy, almost reclusive guy who still lives with his parents and has so little social experience. The dynamic between him and Ray sounds intense, especially with Skarsgård taking on such a commanding role. I’m curious how the film handles Colin’s vulnerability.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really interesting, especially how the film explores Colin’s social awkwardness alongside his first romance. It seems like Alexander Skarsgård’s portrayal as a dominator adds a complex edge to their relationship that isn’t often seen in queer cinema.
I'm intrigued by how the film contrasts Colin's awkward, almost isolated life with Ray's intense, dominating presence. The idea of a sentimental education through such a dynamic feels complex, and Alexander Skarsgård playing the dom adds an interesting layer to their relationship.
I was really intrigued by the dynamic between Colin and Ray, especially how Colin's social awkwardness contrasts with Ray's dominating presence. The detail about Colin playing in a folkloric music group adds such an interesting layer to his character. It sounds like the film leans heavily into these contrasts to explore their relationship.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how Colin’s shy and somewhat isolated nature contrasts with Ray’s dominating presence. It seems like the film explores their relationship in a way that goes beyond typical romance stories, which I think adds a lot of depth.
The dynamic between Colin and Ray sounds pretty fascinating, especially with Colin’s awkwardness contrasting so much with Ray’s dominating presence. I’m curious how the film handles Colin’s isolation and inexperience, particularly since it seems to be such a central part of his character.
I appreciated how the review captured the contrast between Colin's shy, almost otherworldly nature and Ray's intense dominance. It seems like the film really dives into the complexity of their dynamic rather than just the surface romance, which feels refreshing.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost isolated world and Ray’s strong, dominant personality really compelling. Skarsgård’s portrayal of Ray seems to bring an intense complexity to the dynamic that isn’t often explored in films like this.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really intriguing, especially how the film explores Colin's introverted nature and his journey into a new kind of relationship. It seems like Skarsgård's portrayal brings a lot of depth to the character of Ray, which must add an interesting tension to the story.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really intriguing, especially how the film portrays Colin's social struggles alongside this intense new relationship. Skarsgård as the dominant figure seems like a bold casting choice that adds depth to the story.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how the film explores Colin's social awkwardness alongside this intense new relationship. It seems like a unique take on romance that delves into vulnerability and power in an interesting way.
The dynamic between Colin and Ray sounds really intriguing, especially with Colin being portrayed as almost an old bachelor despite his age. I think the way the film explores a sentimental education through this unusual pairing could be quite moving, especially with Skarsgård taking on such a dominant role.
I was intrigued by how the review describes Colin as almost an old bachelor before his time, especially with the bit about his folkloric music group and living with his parents. The dynamic between such a withdrawn character and someone as commanding as Skarsgård’s Ray sounds pretty intense.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost otherworldly demeanor and Ray’s dominant charisma really compelling. It seems like the film explores more than just romance, touching on complex dynamics and personal growth in a way that feels fresh.
I was intrigued by how you described Colin as more than just shy—almost withdrawn from the world, which adds a whole new layer to his dynamic with Ray. The idea of Skarsgård playing such a commanding, dominator role sounds like it really shapes the film’s tension.
I was really intrigued by your description of Colin as a sort of old bachelor before his time, especially with his involvement in a folkloric music group. The contrast between him and Ray sounds pretty intense, and I think it adds a lot of tension to the dynamic you mention.
I was really intrigued by the dynamic between Colin and Ray, especially how Colin's isolation and awkwardness are portrayed. The idea of a sentimental education through such an intense relationship seems both unsettling and compelling. Skarsgård as the dominant biker is definitely not something I expected.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost isolated nature and Ray’s dominant personality really intriguing. It seems like the movie explores the complexities of their relationship beyond just the surface, which feels quite refreshing and thoughtful.
I found the description of Colin really interesting, especially how his social awkwardness and folkloric music group set him apart. The dynamic between him and Ray sounds intense, and casting Skarsgård as the dominant biker seems like a bold choice that could make their relationship quite compelling.
The dynamic between Colin and Ray sounds pretty intriguing, especially with Colin’s awkwardness and Ray’s intense charisma. I’m curious how the film balances that sentimental education with the whole biker gang vibe and submission theme. Skarsgård as the dominator is such a specific casting choice—it’s not something I’d expect from him.
I found the portrayal of Colin as a socially awkward and shy character really intriguing, especially paired with Alexander Skarsgård’s dominant Ray. It seems the film explores some complex dynamics that aren't often shown with such depth in queer cinema.
I found the character contrast between Colin and Ray really intriguing, especially how Colin’s shy, almost otherworldly nature clashes with Ray’s dominating presence. It seems like the film explores the complexities of such a relationship in an interesting way.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost otherworldly character and Ray’s dominant, charismatic presence really intriguing. It feels like the film explores the complexity of their dynamic without falling into clichés, which I think makes it stand out.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how the film explores Colin's shy, almost isolated nature contrasted with Ray's dominant charisma. It seems like a thoughtful take on first romance and identity without falling into clichés.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really intriguing, especially how the film explores such a unique and intense connection. It seems like Skarsgård’s portrayal adds a lot of depth to the dominant character, which makes their relationship feel authentic and compelling.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really fascinating, especially how the film explores Colin’s vulnerability alongside Ray’s dominant personality. It seems like Skarsgård brought a lot of depth to a role that could have easily been one-dimensional.
The dynamic between Colin and Ray sounds really intriguing, especially with Colin's awkwardness and Ray's dominance. I’m curious how Harry Lighton handles such contrasting personalities, especially since Colin seems so out of place in his own life before meeting Ray.
I find the contrast between Colin’s withdrawn, almost folkloric existence and Ray’s imposing presence really intriguing. The idea of Colin being initiated into an entirely different world by someone like Ray feels both tense and compelling. I’m curious how their dynamic actually plays out on screen.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how the film explores Colin's social awkwardness alongside Ray's dominant charisma. It seems like a thoughtful take on first love and personal growth, with Skarsgård bringing a unique intensity to his role.
I was intrigued by the contrast between Colin’s awkwardness and Ray’s ultra-charismatic dominance. The idea of Colin being almost like an old bachelor before his time, still living with his parents, adds a layer of vulnerability to the story that I think could make their dynamic even more compelling.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how the film explores Colin's shy, almost outsider nature against Ray's bold dominance. It seems like a refreshing take on the coming-of-age theme with a lot of emotional depth packed into their relationship.
I found the dynamic between Colin and Ray really compelling, especially how the film explores Colin’s vulnerability alongside Ray’s dominant presence. It seems to capture an unusual but authentic coming-of-age story that’s not often seen in this way.
I found the contrast between Colin’s shy, almost isolated world and Ray’s dominant presence really compelling. It seems like the film explores some complex emotional dynamics, especially with Skarsgård’s portrayal of such a commanding character.
I was intrigued by how Colin's character is described as almost folkloric and socially withdrawn—it seems like an unusual dynamic for a romance with someone as dominant as Ray. The idea of Alexander Skarsgård playing such an ultra macho, charismatic role definitely adds another layer to the film's tension.
I was intrigued by how Colin is described—not just shy, but almost in his own little world and playing in a folkloric music group. The dynamic between him and Ray, with Skarsgård as this intense, charismatic dom, sounds pretty unique for a romance plot.
I was intrigued by how Colin’s character is described—his awkwardness and isolation really set up a stark contrast with Ray’s dominating presence. Alexander Skarsgård as the ultra macho dom sounds like a bold casting choice, and I’m curious how the dynamic between Colin and Ray unfolds on screen.
I found the contrast between Colin's shy, almost otherworldly character and Ray's dominant, macho personality really fascinating. It seems like the film explores a unique dynamic that goes beyond typical romance stories, which makes me curious to see how their relationship develops.
I found the contrast between Colin’s awkwardness and Ray’s dominating presence really intriguing. It seems like the film explores a unique dynamic that goes beyond typical romance stories, which makes it feel quite fresh and layered.