The film “Pillion” is currently showing in Ukrainian cinemas. It's a BDSM rom-com in which Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard plays one of the most candid roles of his career. On this occasion, film critic Sonya Vselyubskaya traces the actor's path – from his father's shadow and service in the navy to outrageous roles in genre films by young directors.
In the midst of the Oscar race, Variety aired an interesting episode of “Actors on Actors,” pairing father and son Alexander and Stellan Skarsgård. Alexander jokingly alluded to his father's resemblance to his character, the toxic patriarch in “Sentimental Value.” Stellan, in turn, admired his son's candid performance in “Pillion,” and tried to get him to reflect on how his own experiences had influenced his acting career.
The son's insolence was no accident. The eldest of eight children in the Swedish Skårgård family, Alexander remains the most famous today – despite competition from his younger brothers and colleagues Bill, Gustaf and Walter, and despite the fact that his professional development was tortuous and controversial.
However, at the age of thirteen, when the young actor felt cramped in the national film industry, and his increasing recognition on the streets caused discomfort, he abruptly abandoned his career. But he resorted to demonstrative gestures more than once. At nineteen, Alexander spontaneously joined the Swedish Navy – to further distance himself from the family aura of art and simply “go into the unknown.” For a year and a half, he served in an elite counter-terrorist unit, patrolling the waters of the Stockholm archipelago.
Faced with typical dilemmas of the early twenties about what to do next, Alexander decided to try to break into acting — so that he wouldn't regret it later.
Reconnecting with the industry at home, the actor increasingly turned his attention to Hollywood. In 2001, he starred in Ben Stiller's satirical American comedy Zoolander, playing a small role as a model. Although he recalls this project with irony in interviews, it was not an easy ticket to success. At first, he was thrown from unemployment to television roles.
However, strangely enough, the army experience came in handy: his first real breakthrough is considered to be a role in the series “Generation Kill” about a battalion during an operation in Iraq, which became a hit on HBO. Grabbing a wide variety of jobs, Alexander sometimes hit the mark – for example, appearing in Lady Gaga's video “Paparazzi”.
His height of 194 centimeters, expressive facial features and a look with a somewhat threatening confidence have over time given him a solid basis for masculine and often complex characters. Today, more than sixty films and a dozen TV series in his portfolio demonstrate a wide genre amplitude. Alexander managed to be Tarzan, a misanthropic android in the science fiction series “Murderbot”, a tyrannical man in “Big Little Lies”, a brazen billionaire in “The Heirs”, return to the image of a soldier in “The Aftermath” – and not even give up the sequel to “Zoolander”.
In a variety of roles, the actor has demonstrated a wide dramatic range and the physical stamina necessary for challenging work. However, his inherent sense of humor and penchant for eccentricity have only fully revealed themselves in recent projects.
Today, Alexander Skarsgård appears in a particularly interesting light – his latest projects and he himself are becoming increasingly daring and frank. The turning point in his career can probably be considered Robert Eggers' “Varangian” – a historical saga with elements of black comedy about Amleth, played by Alexander. The actor has been fascinated by Nordic myths about warriors since childhood, so he performed liters of blood and spectacular violence on the set with zeal.
The appeal of this crazy role did not make us wait long for a sequel. Soon, the surreal thriller “The Endless Pool” was released by Brandon Cronenberg – the son of the legendary David Cronenberg, who in his body horror imagination did not go far from his father. The film tells the bizarre turn of two couples' vacation at a resort in Eastern Europe – there Alexander had to die several times in the frame.
By choosing unconventional roles, he supports aspiring directors with wild imaginations whose work eventually gains recognition in the industry and among young cinephiles. Eggers has since become one of Hollywood's most sought-after directors, Cronenberg has captivated critics with his inventiveness, and his recent mockumentary starring Charli XCX, “The Moment,” has been a hit at festivals and at the box office. So Alexander's participation in “Pillion,” the bold debut of British director Harry Leighton, fits into this logic.
At the center of “Pillion” is a shy gay man, Collin, who one Christmas Eve finds his miracle in a chance meeting with a super-sexy biker, Ray. A passionate and at the same time very specific relationship is established between them – within the framework of BDSM practices. Collin unconditionally takes a submissive position, submitting to a man he never dared to dream of, and accepting his severity and closedness.
“Pillion,” which premiered at Cannes, received rave reviews and was received with particular pride in its homeland, Britain. It's a sexy yet very tender film, where tales, leather and spikes are presented through the prism of a classic rom-com – a combination that proved surprisingly expressive for Alexander himself. So much so that he not only played the dominant, but also took on the duties of executive producer.
During a press conference for Golden Globe voters, he describes his first impressions of reading the script as unforgettable, and calls the material itself “absolutely unique among everything I've read before.” When asked about the meager budget and the risks of a debut director, Alexander replies: “I really didn't care – I was so impressed that I didn't doubt my decision for a second.” In particular, he was attracted by the representation of BDSM relationships, which in cinema still remain underrepresented and burdened by stereotypes. In “Pillion,” they receive a rare screen incarnation and demonstrate that “BDSM can be not only lustful and intense, but also very gentle and caring,” Alexander adds.
In the film itself, this mixture of intensity and tenderness is fully revealed. Sexual games become for the characters both a space for the development of feelings and a test of boundaries – the central driver of both their relationship and the film itself. The chemistry between the main actors, which the camera captures in the most intimate moments, cannot but touch with its natural emancipation. When communicating with the press, Alexander does not avoid talking about difficult scenes and notes that the final cut did not include the most radical episodes.
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“Pillion” has sparked some useful discussions, praised for its enlightening approach to BDSM culture, while also being criticized for its inaccuracies in portraying its rules. However, these controversies have been partly overshadowed by the film's promotional campaign itself – primarily the actor's red carpet appearances, each of which easily went viral.
People have been paying closer attention to Alexander's appearances since the “Eternal Pool” press tour, when he appeared on a leash with Mia Goth. The release of “Pillion” allowed his style to finally break free from the chain. Outrageous looks that continue the dialogue with his on-screen characters are created by stylist Harry Lambert, also known for his work with Harry Styles. Recently, Alexander has managed to appear in Saint Laurent leather boots, abandon pants in favor of minishorts or simply stay in suspenders, wear tight T-shirts with inscriptions like “hot buffet” – or the one with the image of a man that he found in a London second-hand shop. Analyzing his style, Vogue Ukraine wrote: “Alexander does not aim to be “sexy”. He works with desire as with a tool, he works on a reaction. That is why his looks are actively discussed. He deliberately and effectively drives us crazy.”
However, behind all this public openness and public playing with bisexuality, Alexander remains a man torn between work and home, where his three-year-old daughter is growing up. Currently, only two projects are known to be in development – among them the historical drama “The Wolf Will Tear Your Immaculate Hands”. Alexander Skarsgård manages to be an outrageous star with obvious ease. Another question is whether there will be a place for serious dramatic roles in this new chapter.