Director Harry Lighton Hosts Reddit AMA

- "PILLION" is director Harry Lighton's feature debut and is based on Adam Mars-Jones' 2020 novel, "Box Hill." Lighton adapted the screenplay himself, but significantly changed the setting from the 1970s to the present day. - The film has been described by A24's marketing as a "dom-com," a portmanteau for a dominant-submissive romantic comedy. However, in the Reddit AMA, Lighton acknowledged concerns that the marketing might be off-base, as some viewers found the film to be sad and not traditionally romantic. - During the AMA, Lighton was asked why he chose to film in the London suburb of Bromley. He explained that the mundane setting was a deliberate choice to contrast with the unconventional relationship at the center of the story. - The film's lead actors, Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, were Lighton's ideal choices for the roles. He mentioned in the AMA that he had them in mind from the beginning of the casting process. - Lighton's previous work includes the BAFTA-nominated short film "Wren Boys." "PILLION" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, where it received critical acclaim. - The author of the original novel, Adam Mars-Jones, described the book in its dedication as a "murky brew." When asked about adapting such complex material, Lighton explained his intention was to explore the story's challenging themes in a way that would be accessible to a mainstream audience. - In a Q&A session, Lighton revealed that his initial drafts of the script were wildly different, with one version being set in ancient Rome and another on a cruise ship, before he settled on a contemporary setting. - The film explores a BDSM relationship where Colin (Melling) willingly becomes the submissive to Ray (Skarsgård). Lighton aimed to portray this dynamic without judgment, focusing on the characters' emotional and psychological journey.