Pillion, which explores a relationship between leather dom Ray (Alexander Skarsgård) and submissive Colin (Harry Melling), has just opened in UK cinemas. But how realistic is its portrayal of a group little seen in mainstream cinema?
Dr Lori Beth Bisbey, 62, Edinburgh
Pillion feels very true to its roots as a movie about leather. As a leatherwoman, I thought it was absolutely brilliant. I loved the tension, and it’s funny as hell. It’s also incredibly hot.
There isn’t a single consent conversation in the film, perhaps because that could be boring. I think it’s perfectly ethical not to include what may have been a lengthy negotiation between Colin and Ray but, on the flipside, sometimes there isn’t a conversation, and people decide to take risks. I’m all for people making their own decisions about taking those risks, as long as they’re able to assess them.
As a psychologist, I can see what psychological conflicts they were trying to pull away from. Ray may need to be in control because that’s how he manages emotion. When he loses control, it doesn’t feel safe to him. It’s harder to tell with Colin. He gains the ability to speak more about what he wants, now that he understands what’s being asked of him. It’s important people are made clear that a relationship of this kind can be very healthy.
