A new film starring Alexander Skarsgård as a dominant partner in a gay BDSM relationship has sparked debate, with some hailing it as a 'sweet love story' and others calling it 'abuse'. Titled Pillion, the British romcom premiered at Cannes last May and opens in US cinemas next week.
Directed by Harry Lighton, the film follows Colin (Harry Melling), a shy man who sings in a barbershop quartet, and Ray (Skarsgård), a leather-clad stranger who initiates a sadomasochistic relationship. Their first date involves Colin licking Ray's boots outside a Primark store on Christmas Day.
Critics have largely praised the film, with The Guardian calling it '50 shades of BDSM Wallace and Gromit' and The Independent describing it as 'one of the sweetest, sexiest, and most tender films you'll see all year'. It holds a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and recently received three Bafta nominations.
However, some viewers have expressed discomfort. Broadcaster Matt Cain said the film 'basically looks like abuse', while social media users questioned whether the dom-sub dynamic depicted is realistic. The film's marketing as a 'dom-com' has also been criticised for misleading audiences.
Despite the controversy, Pillion has won awards at the British Independent Film Awards and the Gotham Awards, and is being touted as an 'alternative Christmas classic' by some critics.
