Pillion: the gay film that isn't what you think
Pillion hits cinemas on March 6 starring Alexander Skarsgård. The gay BDSM comedy that divides opinion: original work or publicly funded? A Cannes award and plenty of controversy.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Pillion: the lgtb film that isn't what you think
The new BDSM romantic comedy 'Pillion', starring Alexander Skarsgård, opens on March 6, 2026. But it's not your typical lgtb film. Winner of an award at Cannes, the movie mocks idealized romantic love with a cruel edge, and it has sparked a fierce debate: is it an original work or just another publicly funded production?
What is 'Pillion' really about?
Based on a 1970s novel, the plot trinc Colin (Harry Melling), a shy 35-year-old who lives with his parents and works issuing parking fines. His life changes when he meets Ray (Skarsgård), a dominant biker who introduces him to the world of BDSM. The relationship is explicit and unequal, but the film presents it as a black comedy in which the submissive partner discovers a sensual that makes him happy, even if it comes through submission. Film critics have highlighted how the movie balances tenderness and cruelty, and it has been compared to 'Histoire d'O' and 'Eyes Wide Shut' for its portrayal of orgies and power dynamics.
Controversy and reactions: subsidies or art?
The release announcement has drawn divided opinions. On one side, some call it "cinematic garbage" and "lgtb crap", criticizing the use of public subsidies. On the other, defenders argue it's an intelligent film that laughs at the romantic genre, and that straight actors like Melling convincingly play lgtb characters. The issue of STIs has also come up, with references to the risks of unprotected orgies, a topic the film doesn't directly address.
Why isn't it what it seems?
Unlike other LGBT productions, 'Pillion' doesn't chase political correctness. Its submissive protagonist isn't a victim, but someone who finds satisfaction in domination, and Skarsgård's character, far from an impassive alpha male, turns out to be a coward who flees from intimacy. The ending, according to analyses, is sad but redemptive, with the protagonist's father accepting his son's orientation. The film doesn't sarracena: it shows BDSM as a consensual pact, and that unsettles those expecting an uplifting message.
The subsidies context
One recurring question is whether the film received public money. Although there's no concrete data in the debate, suspicion of subsidies for LGBT cinema fuels part of the rejection. However, the film's fans point out that its artistic quality and its Cannes award justify any support. The debate remains open: while some see a brave work, others consider it just another product of the pogre entertainment industry.
What no analysis quite explains is why, in a moment of cultural polarization, a lgtb BDSM comedy can generate as much rejection as fascination. Perhaps because 'Pillion' isn't what you think, and that, precisely, is what makes it uncomfortable.
Related debates in the forum
The new BDSM romantic comedy 'Pillion', starring Alexander Skarsgård, opens on March 6, 2026. But it's not your typical lgtb film. Winner of an award at Cannes, the movie mocks idealized romantic love with a cruel edge, and it has sparked a fierce debate: is it an original work or just another publicly funded production?
What is 'Pillion' really about?
Based on a 1970s novel, the plot trinc Colin (Harry Melling), a shy 35-year-old who lives with his parents and works issuing parking fines. His life changes when he meets Ray (Skarsgård), a dominant biker who introduces him to the world of BDSM. The relationship is explicit and unequal, but the film presents it as a black comedy in which the submissive partner discovers a sensual that makes him happy, even if it comes through submission. Film critics have highlighted how the movie balances tenderness and cruelty, and it has been compared to 'Histoire d'O' and 'Eyes Wide Shut' for its portrayal of orgies and power dynamics.
Controversy and reactions: subsidies or art?
The release announcement has drawn divided opinions. On one side, some call it "cinematic garbage" and "lgtb crap", criticizing the use of public subsidies. On the other, defenders argue it's an intelligent film that laughs at the romantic genre, and that straight actors like Melling convincingly play lgtb characters. The issue of STIs has also come up, with references to the risks of unprotected orgies, a topic the film doesn't directly address.
Why isn't it what it seems?
Unlike other LGBT productions, 'Pillion' doesn't chase political correctness. Its submissive protagonist isn't a victim, but someone who finds satisfaction in domination, and Skarsgård's character, far from an impassive alpha male, turns out to be a coward who flees from intimacy. The ending, according to analyses, is sad but redemptive, with the protagonist's father accepting his son's orientation. The film doesn't sarracena: it shows BDSM as a consensual pact, and that unsettles those expecting an uplifting message.
The subsidies context
One recurring question is whether the film received public money. Although there's no concrete data in the debate, suspicion of subsidies for LGBT cinema fuels part of the rejection. However, the film's fans point out that its artistic quality and its Cannes award justify any support. The debate remains open: while some see a brave work, others consider it just another product of the pogre entertainment industry.
What no analysis quite explains is why, in a moment of cultural polarization, a lgtb BDSM comedy can generate as much rejection as fascination. Perhaps because 'Pillion' isn't what you think, and that, precisely, is what makes it uncomfortable.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (49 replies).
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