Challengers | Luca Guadagnino, 2024
Tennis is an inherently cinematic sport, not just in its ability to create narrative, but also in its tragedy. A sport in which it’s possible to win more points and more games than your opponent and still lose; or lose more and still win. A sport about winning the points that matter. It’s in this idea that Guadagnino roots the film. A sport, and a film, about fluid contexts and constant reinvention, grinding down your opponent and preying on their weakness. Tennis and life, indistinguishable from one another. Winning at both is playing the game to win, and deciphering the points that matter from the ones that don’t. Come onnnnnnnnnnn!