Thursday, 19 October 2023

VOD: Fair Play (dir: Chloe Domont, 2023)

"You know this is just a game?"
"Mm-mm, you play it very well."

 

Opening to the strains of Donna Summer's Love To Love You Baby sets the tone for torrid battle-of-the-sexes Netflix drama, with an opening sequence that vividly establishes the battleground of romance and sex for this upwardly-mobile couple - both financial analysts - in a long-term illicit workplace relationship.  With the man in line for a big promotion, the post is instead offered to the woman, and thus cracks and ultimately chasms start to enter their relationship, as well exposing attitudes in a male-dominated industry.  This is proper adult drama, shot beautifully and with two terrific nuanced central performances from Alden Ehrenreich and particularly Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor.  Skewering toxic masculinity and gender politics unmercifully, Fair Play quietly and decisively pulls apart both big business and this particular personal relationship with uncomfortable and very engaging precision.

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