Why Challengers is the hottest movie of the year

Challengers, the latest film by Italian Luca Guadagnino, to whom we owe the cult Call Me by Your Name, sees superstar Zendaya in a love triangle that challenges heteronormativity.

At the end of adolescence, Patrick Zweig AND Art Donaldsontwo childhood friends and
tennis players, fall under the spell of Tashi Duncan during a tournament
junior. Future great champion with a mind of steel, the young woman
begins dating the unstable Patrick, before a terrible injury
puts an end to his ambitions as an athlete. Tashi then turns with the more stable Art, which she
shaped in his image. It makes him a tennis champion, he gets married and has a child
with him.

About ten years later, while her husband was experiencing an inheritance
of defeats, encourages him to participate in a small tournament at the last moment
regain confidence in your game. Art and Tashi’s paths cross again
Patrick’s, for a decisive match, against the backdrop of their flashbacks crazy
romance.

Two childhood friends fighting for a woman’s heart. From Jules and Jim to
Dawson, pop culture is full of these stories where, like an eve of time
modern, the female character comes to plunder a male Garden of Eden. And more
Nothing will be the same again. Why a director like Luca Guadagnino
Were they interested in this narrative trope seen and revisited? We understand why since
first few minutes of his film: there was something strange to explore in this one
type of dynamic, often narrated from a heterosexual point of view. And it is necessary
admit it, threesome desire stories are exciting. It remained to film this
modern and less sexist way.

Luca Guadagnino queerizes the good old love triangle

The promotion played a lot on the “sulphurous” side of a film that promised to be a lot
very sexy. But those who come to see Challengers for its sex scenes
they will probably be frustrated. The erotic grammar deployed by Luca Guadagnino’s camera suggests more than it shows. The director had the right idea
Fromusing tennis as a metaphor for sexual relationships. Drops of sweat,
close-ups or slow-motions on parts of the body in tension, the comings and goings of the yellow ball
under the eyes of Tashi, all with an electro background (soundtrack by Atticus Ross
& Trent Reznor contributes to the electric atmosphere)… Tennis matches no
never been so hot as in Challengers. Aesthetically very successful, the film highlights
brilliantly in parallel with the strong emotions offered by high-level tennis
and sexual desire (Tashi’s screams on the tennis courts represent orgasms).

Game, set and match for Zendaya

If Luca Guadagnino’s inspired production has a lot to do with success
From Challengerswe must also pay tribute to the high-level performances of their performers.
The film would be nothing without it The warmth and power of Zendaya’s acting. Excellent
in a war machine dedicated to tennis and emotions, who knows how to show off
very ruthless and toxic with her husband, the actress demonstrates her full range
talent, a few weeks after shining in the blockbuster Dune 2.

In the role of Patrick is Josh O’Connor (revealed to the general public in The Crown).
equally irresistible. We note in passing that the “hot mess” character, who doesn’t have it
he broke into top-level tennis and isn’t chubby, he’s bisexual. A little cliché,
but so well played by the actor! In the midst of these two magnetic performers, Mike
Faist does what he can to achieve their charisma, without completely succeeding.
Her chemistry with Josh O’Connor, particularly during the sauna scene
homoerotic where their power dynamic is revealed, save this character
a little milder than the other two.

As promised, Challengers is the hottest movie of the yearbut not because him
contains “sulphurous” sex scenes. All the sensuality of the film is based on
the installation of an electric and passionate atmosphere between the protagonists and
this metaphor is linked to tennis as the fluidity of desire.

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