Hooray for this Fifty Shades of Gay!

The minute “Pillion” opens with a motorcyclist speeding on the highway to the tune of Italian music (Betty Curtis’ “Chariot” to be exact), the minute I knew it would be a provocative film. As far as I know, it’s usually international films that have some of the coolest shots of those kinds. And you also need the right ambiance to fit those scenes.

I also knew it would be another worthy gay movie. But I didn’t know it would feature a BDSM relationship, almost like a gay “Fifty Shades of Grey,” but much better. There are going to be strict moments between the lovers, but it isn’t in the indulging, idiotic, and self-congratulatory manner that the Dakota Johnson-Jamie Dornan hit was. It’s in the charismatic, stoic, sexy, and riveting manner it pushes itself into.

Harry Melling plays Colin, a young gay man living with his parents (Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp) and pursing his goal of being in a barbershop quartet. At this point, he’s also a parking enforcement officer, who is called a “wanker” for doing his job. One night after a performance in a local pub, he falls in love with Ray (Alexander Skarsgard), a member of a local biker gang. Despite a successful hookup, he tells the young man he’s not around much, but months later, he calls him back into his life. But more in a BDSM manner.

Colin enjoys the hard, intense sex, while catering to Ray’s needs, which includes cooking, cleaning, and taking care of his dog. And he also shaves his head and joins the biker gang, who don’t succumb to cliches of certain initiations. Just some sex scenes and some swimming and bike riding.

“Pillion” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay prize and the Palm Dog for Mutt Movement. It’s also the directorial debut of Harry Lighton, who is gay, directed short films (“Look at Me,” “Wren Boys,” etc.) and is eight days older than me. His first feature has entered a lot of dangerous territories, and has you guessing on the outcome. Add some dark humor, a lot of eroticism, and first rate performances from Melling and Skarsgard, and you have yourself a fresh piece of gay entertainment.

At one point in the film, Colin asks Ray to meet his parents, but he doesn’t wish to. But eventually, they all have dinner, and they’re not really fond of his personality and how he treats their son. For example, he tells Colin’s dying mother: “Deciding what makes you comfortable is bad for your son is a backwards way of thinking.” While he calls her “ignorant,” she drops the “C” word on him. Now that’s a snappy comeback.

The young man has a more optimistic feel and has to do certain things without feeling so meek and desperate. Besides looking attractive in his character’s barbershop quartet outfit and necklace, Melling puts a lot of sentimentality in him. And you must also give credit for Skaragard (also currently seen in “The Moment”) for embracing the style, shifting tones, and dominant personality of his character. There are times when I’m not sure what is going on, but there are also times when I can read between the lines. And I think it draws a fine line between BDSM relationships and romantic relationships.

Now, take the queer family drama “Jimpa” with John Lithgow as the title gay character and now “Pillion.” How can you compare one from another? Because you need a strong character study, you need patience, you need originality, and you need to fill a certain void in the nature of it all. “Pillion” has those qualities.

And speaking of which, people usually would say “Sorry about the mess” at a movie theater, but it’s very rare that an usher would chase off two guys for leaving love stains on the seats. My reaction: “Now that’s originality.”

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