"Do you give?" A question critical to many relationships, it takes on heightened significance in Harry Lighton's film Pillion, a romance that revolves around BDSM themes yet delivers an unexpectedly tender narrative. The movie focuses on Colin, portrayed by Harry Melling, and Ray, played by Alexander Skarsgård, whose partnership is unconventional yet clearly defined by mutual understanding and consent.
Colin leads a life of quiet compliance: he handles all the cooking, sleeps on the floor, and wears a locked chair around his neck, with Ray holding the key. While this dynamic reveals an unbalanced power relationship on its surface, Colin willingly embraces his role, finding fulfillment in submission. The presence of leather and other elements typical of BDSM culture are prominent but serve to underline the authenticity of their bond rather than to sensationalize it.
The pair’s contrasting personalities make their match particularly striking. Colin is a mild-mannered parking officer living with his parents in Bromley and indulging in his passion for barbershop quartet singing. Ray, in contrast, is reticent, enigmatic, and exudes a dangerous charisma as a motorcycle rider. Their introductory encounter defies romantic comedy conventions: instead of a charming meeting filled with dialogue and mutual attraction, their first connection occurs indirectly, with Colin glimpsing Ray from a moving car as "Chariot" by Betty Curtis plays on the radio. Later, Ray discreetly leaves Colin a note suggesting a meeting on Christmas, culminating in a terse, wordless date that leads into a dark alley where the pair engage in intimate postures and power exchanges emblematic of their relationship.
Following their encounter, Colin’s parents inquire with curiosity, particularly his father, who wonders if Ray is "a nice chap." The film is primarily experienced from Colin’s perspective as their relationship progresses. Ray’s communication is mostly commands, and though the power imbalance may seem severe, Colin’s acceptance and genuine happiness in this dynamic subvert conventional assumptions about dominance and submission. His devotion is expressed openly, including a heartfelt acceptance of his role, quoting Ray’s observation of his "aptitude for devotion." Their interactions, including moments where Ray makes Colin wrestle or Colin rides happily on Ray’s motorcycle, reveal a relationship marked by consensual surrender rather than coercion.
Pillion may be one of the first films to merge the dominatrix-submissive relationship into the romantic comedy genre, perhaps earning the moniker of a “dom-com.” Notably, it joins another recent A24 film, "Babygirl" (2024), that explores similar themes of domination. However, Lighton’s feature debut, based on Adam Mars-Jones’ novel "Box Hill," avoids the darker, potentially abusive elements of its source material, opting instead for a joyful examination of an extreme relationship dynamic governed by individual desires and emotional needs akin to any partnership.
Skarsgård’s portrayal of Ray is convincingly detached yet occasionally hints at vulnerability, embodying the impenetrable dominant. Nonetheless, the film’s emotional center lies with Melling’s Colin, who brings a quirky sweetness that lends both levity and poignancy to the narrative. Melling’s command of subtle expressions invites empathy, making Colin’s journey relatable even as it ventures into unconventional territory. The screenplay balances humor with tenderness, demonstrated in moments like the mundane yet impactful inquiry of Ray’s character as a "nice chap." Despite its explicit scenes and BDSM context, which have drawn notable attention, Pillion communicates a touching exploration of sexual awakening and relational consent.
Set to release nationwide on February 20 by A24, Pillion offers a 106-minute feature that remains unrated by the Motion Picture Association due to explicit sexual content. The film has garnered a three out of four-star evaluation, signaling broad critical acknowledgment of its distinctive approach to romance and power exchange.