Article by Francesco Soprana 

Translation by Alessandra Di Paola Seminara 

“Have you ever been with a biker?” With this teasing question begins the erotic and emotional odyssey of Colin (Harry Melling) in Harry Lighton’s feature debut, a film that delves into the intricate universe of dominant-submissive relationships. Winner of the Screenplay Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, Pillion is presented in the Out of Competition category at the 43rd TFF.

Colin is painfully shy, almost invisible, a man who leads a quiet, solitary existence on the outskirts of town. His everyday life grows increasingly dreary and claustrophobic until he encounters Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), an alluring motorcyclist who draws him into a thrilling BDSM dynamic governed by strict rules. Their highs are electrifying; their lows push both men to confront their assumptions about sex, affection, and what society labels as “normal.”

The contrasts between the protagonists and the asymmetry in their relationship allow both characters to unfold in all their layered complexity. Words are scarce; instead, the two communicate through a charged physicality. Ray is direct, confident, effortlessly controlling the other. Melling, in turn, embodies a reserved Colin, allowing the character’s gaze to speak volumes. The camera reinforces the distance between the two: Ray is framed as the object of Colin’s desire, his body broken into tantalizing fragments, while Colin is captured almost exclusively in close-ups, revealing the emotional vulnerability that emerges most powerfully in the erotic scenes.

The motorcycle itself becomes a central narrative symbol: Pillion, a term indicating the person sitting on the passenger seat, carries unmistakable sexual overtones in BDSM circles. Ray’s introduction, speeding across the frame on his bike observed by Colin’s attentive gaze, sets the tone. Slow motion recurs throughout scenes of the two riding together, lingering on Melling’s dreamy stare at his partner as time stretches and a gentle score suggests a tenderness blossoming beneath the surface. Pillion merges the charged atmosphere of erotic cinema with the lightness of romantic comedy, resulting in a cinematic experience that feels both sensual and moving.