Directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name (2017); Bones and All (2022); A Bigger Splash (2015)) and starring Zendaya (Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017); The Greatest Showman (2017); Dune: Part One (2017)), Mike Faist (West Side Story (2021); The Bikeriders (2023); Our Time (2016)) and Josh O'Connor (God's Own Country (2017); Emma (2020); The Crown (TV series, 2019-2020).
Drama; 131 mins; 12+
Set in the world of professional tennis, it follows Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor), all professional players.
Set over a period of thirteen years, the storyline hops backwards and forwards constantly, starting with a Challenger tournament where Tashi, a former tennis prodigy and now Art's coach, persuades him to enter in order to rediscover his confidence in advance of the US Open, the forthcoming tennis major in what could be his last chance.
Art had lost touch with his former close friend, Patrick, who always got the better of him when playing against each other: they meet in the tournament final in what is a thrilling climax to their professional lives as old rivalries are reignited both on and off the court.
By the time the last set is half-way through being played, the audience has been brought up to date with Tashi's career-ending injury and the love triangle between the three of them.
Stunning cinematography and a wonderful soundtrack, and the standard of tennis shots and rallies being played is very high, considering they are actors. Great character development; however, the constantly changing timeline is confusing at times.
A interesting drama set in the world of professional tennis, not unlike Match Point and Wimbledon.
Currently being screened at Kinepolis in Luxembourg.
