The film Pillion will premiere at Bíó Paradís on 19 February as part of a special event that will also include a discussion about power, boundaries and BDSM culture.
Sigurður Júlíus Guðmundsson, chair of Bangsafélagið, Katrín Íris Sigurðardóttir, chair of BDSM Iceland, and Óli Hjörtur Ólafsson, operations manager at Bíó Paradís, spoke to Guðrún Dís Emilsdóttir and Atli Fannar Bjarkason on RÚV’s morning radio programme about the film and the two organisations.
Pillion is a drama about a shy choir singer who is drawn into a world of submission and dominance after meeting a charismatic motorcyclist. The film explores their complex relationship and examines power dynamics, intimacy and identity in a relationship where consent and boundaries are central. Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling play the leading roles.
The aim of the event is not only to screen the film but also to create a space for open discussion. Representatives of Iceland’s BDSM community said it was important for films dealing with these subjects to be discussed in the context of the community’s actual culture and values, where clear consent, safety and mutual respect are emphasised.
They pointed out that films addressing these themes can both increase visibility and raise questions that deserve to be explored in an informative and constructive setting.
Bíó Paradís has long placed an emphasis on screening films that encourage discussion and offer insight into different cultures and social issues. The screening of Pillion fits well with that approach, as the film presents both a provocative and personal story about relationships, identity and boundaries.
The premiere will be open to the public, and a conversation or discussion is planned after the screening, giving audience members an opportunity to ask questions and share their reactions. The event is therefore intended to be both a film screening and a forum for education and open discussion about subjects that are rarely given much space in public debate.
The radio interview can be heard on the RÚV website.
The radio interview is in Icelandic.
