About

CINECITY: Pillion
Dir: Harry Lighton, UK 2025
With: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård, Lesley Sharp, Douglas Hodge

Certification: 18

A mild-mannered traffic warden explores his boundaries in this frank, funny and unexpected romance.

Colin’s humdrum suburban life is turned upside down when he meets charismatic, leather-clad Ray. Soon Colin is willingly submitting to Ray’s sexual demands, doing his chores and sleeping on his floor. He is also introduced to the community of queer bikers that Ray hangs out with.

Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård give outstanding performances which capture the complexity of Colin and Ray’s unsettling relationship. The cast also features Lesley Sharp and Douglas Hodge as Colin’s parents, and Scissor Sisters singer Jake Shears.

Pillion is the first feature by Harry Lighton, whose script won the Un Certain Regard Best Screenplay award at Cannes this year. The film was adapted from the award-winning novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones.

'Funny and touching and alarming–like a cross between Alan Bennett and Tom of Finland with perhaps a tiny smidgen of what could be called a BDSM Wallace and Gromit.’ Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

About CINECITY
Now in its 23rd year, CINECITY presents the very best in world cinema, with a diverse programme of premieres and previews, treasures from the archive, live soundtracks, exhibitions, talks and special events.

The festival takes place from 30 October until 16 November at venues across Brighton and Lewes.