Rights holder / Distributor: Element Pictures / BBC Film / BFI / Picturehouse Entertainment / A24
Pelion (Pillion() is a 2025 British-Irish romantic comedy-drama film directed by Harry Leighton from a screenplay by Harry Leighton and Adam Mars-Jones. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 28 November 2025.
Pelion is a romantic black comedy-drama film written and directed by Harry Leighton and based on the novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones. The film makes its world premiere in the section Un Certain Regard (Special Look) at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay award, and later triumphed at British Independent Film Awards as Best British Independent Film.
The story revolves around Colin, a quiet and reserved young man who lives with his parents and works in an administrative office, combining his daily duties with a hobby such as singing in a quartet. His life is ordinary, calmly monotonous and without any particularly shocking moments. Everything begins to change on Christmas, when he meets Ray, a charismatic and mysterious leader of a motorcycle club, who attracts Colin with his confidence, strength and unexpected vitality. From this meeting, an unconventional relationship develops, which is based not only on romantic feelings, but also on the dynamics of domination and submission (BDSM), in which Ray takes on the role of dominant, and Colin - his subordinate partner. As Colin enters deeper and deeper into the explained relationship - cooking, cleaning, following instructions and even changing his appearance and behavior - he begins to rethink his boundaries, who he is and what he wants from life. The film does not avoid humor, unexpected situations and social reactions of others, but at the same time raises questions about autonomy, love and personal choices.
Pelion is the first feature film by Harry Leighton, who makes an impressive directorial debut. He skillfully mixes romantic comedy, social drama and the subcultural map of BDSM and the motorcycle scene, creating a story that is simultaneously entertaining, provocative and moving. The camera and script reveal both the bright side of the unusual relationship and the deeper emotional layers of the characters - from the tension between being accepted as you are to the clash between your own desires and societal expectations.
At the center of the film are two characters with clearly opposing personalities, whose chemistry makes the story work both dramatically and comedically. Harry Melling plays Colin, a quiet, introverted, and initially insecure young man whose emotional journey is at the center of the narrative. Alexander Skarsgard is Ray, a dominant, confident, and mysterious moped rider whose role brings both physical and psychological strength to the dynamic between the two characters. In supporting roles Douglas Hodge and Leslie Sharp complement the portraits of family and social reactions surrounding Colin, while Jake Shears and the others offer colorful images that enrich the plot.
Pelion is an unusual, provocative and warm romantic film that tells the story of love, control and self-discovery in the context of an unconventional relationship. With a balance of humor, tenderness and intimacy, the film opens the door to subcultures that are rarely seen on the big screen, and does so without prejudgment, but with a clear human heart. Because of its ability to combine its bold themes with sincere portrayal of the characters, Pelion stands out as one of the interesting titles of the season, which not only entertains but also provokes thought.
