Challengers: A Look into Modern Art Cinema

Art cinema has always been an interesting topic in film. During my film classes of undergrad, I found myself appreciating art cinema for what it was, but rarely did I take anything away from it, mainly because it is usually not meant to teach a lesson. It explores the happenings of life, and how we can make our own meaning in simple relationships. There is no need for a plot, a villain, a hero. Just people, living their lives. I argue, that this is the point of Luca Guadagnino's Challengers (2024); it is an exploration of the relationship of three people who have intersecting goals. However, the inclusion of tension and heteronormative expectations allow for this film to emulate the feeling of a plot based film, while ultimately still being an art exploration. Let me break this down for you. 

Stop here if you haven't seen the movie yet, as I'm gonna get into specifics. All I can say is: go see this film if you haven't!

The movie follows the story of Art Donaldson (Played by Mike Faist), Patrick Zweig (Played by Josh O'Connor), and Tashi Duncan (Played by Zendaya Coleman). In present time, Art and Tashi are married in their 30s with a young daughter, and they work together to build a successful tennis career for Art. Art has joined a challenger, a low-level tennis competition to help increase his confidence since he recently has felt off his game. At this challenger, Art and Tashi are surprised to see that Patrick is a competitor as well, for they have not seen him in years. This lights a fire in both Art and Patrick as they are taken right back to their tumultuous youth and complicated relationship history with Tashi, and their story is reflected in Art and Patrick's final's match during the challenger.

How did we get here though? Told in a non-linear fashion, we are first introduced to a young Art and Patrick who are a promising tennis duo competing at a high school level tennis competition, matching chemistry on and off the court. Now these guys, off the bat seem a bit fruity, playing off each others words and actions in a way that only those with perfect sync can pull off. Best friends, as perfect as peanut butter and jelly. However, what is peanut butter and jelly without the bread? Enter, Tashi Duncan. She is at the top of her game, a real tennis prodigy in the making. And she has caught the eye of both Art and Patrick. We get shown the awkward attempts the boys make to get her attention, but we can appreciate their tenacity because it works, and she meets up with them in their hotel room at the competition. This is the moment the film tells us exactly what is going to happen in the rest of the story.

This kind of non-linear storytelling always works best through mirroring events from past and future, and some bit of foreshadowing. The groundwork for this story was laid the moment Tashi said she didn't want to be a "home-wrecker" in Art and Patrick's relationship, recognizing their chemistry for them. But of course, we are human and can't help what we want in the moment, and at that moment, Art and Patrick wanted Tashi. So she played along, and told them she would give her number to whoever won in Art and Patrick's match the next day. Foolish teenage desire, that would haunt them the rest of their lives. 

Guadagnino chose to portray this story in a non-linear style to make the back and forth of the story give us hints to the outcome of the match Art and Patrick are currently competing in. We see the two desperately attempt to assert dominance over the court, spilling complicated feelings with each hit. Sure, Art is with Tashi now, but that wasn't always the case, because the person who ultimately got her number when they were in high school was-- 

First set, Patrick Zweig. 

See how effective that is? Show us, don't tell us; this is the key to art cinema. (This is what book to screen adaptations need, but thats another conversation...)

We are taken back in time again, and shown the aftermath of Patrick winning Tashi's number as teenagers led to the two dating for a short time. This created jealousy for Art, as he found himself falling for Tashi during their interactions together at Stanford University. Art takes a different approach, and bides his time while instilling doubt in Tashi about Patrick's loyalty to her. Patrick isn't especially bothered by this, instead proud of Art for starting to find his own tactics to getting what he wanted, a skill Patrick already "perfected." This is an interesting moment, as it sets Patrick up as a sort of mentor or inspiration for Art. He wants Art to win, to build his confidence while also asserting his own.

Suddenly, these two best friends were in competition, with different intentions for a prize. For Art, it was Tashi. For Patrick, it was to help Art grow. And Tashi? Well she was just having fun, until her world came crashing down with a torn ACL, destroying her tennis career. So for her, she needed someone to be her new tennis vessel, and do all the things she would never be able to. Momentarily, Art and Tashi's goals aligned. 

Second set, Art Donaldson. 

This is where the tension begins to grow. So far, the sets have been decided by who "won Tashi," or so it seemed.