From the moment its trailer begins, writer and director Chloe Domont‘s Fair Play is seductively intriguing. Having premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival and having recently screened at Toronto this month, the suspense and anticipation has only grown. A thriller surrounding a tumultuous relationship submersed within the high paced world of finance, Fair Play will keep you holding your breath until its final moments.
Inequality and Insecurity
Paced to perfection, Fair Play opens on our central couple of Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich). Attending the wedding of Luke’s brother, the two can barely take their hands off one another. It feels high paced and intense in the love they share, the moment culminating to an engagement in one of the most awkward, yet strangely sweet depictions of an on screen proposal. As they dash into the night and the warmth of each other, morning brings them aback to the harsh reality of daylight.
After having dated for two years, audiences quickly learn the two also work alongside one another, keeping their relationship a secret in the workplace. It is a harsh and drastic contrast to the film’s opening as they part ways from their apartment, reuniting in the elevator at work seemingly nothing more than simple acquaintances. There is a horror in both the need to hide their relationship and how well they do it. There is an ominous feel that begins to settle in as we watch both Emily and Luke continue throughout their day, strangers in a room of secrets, only allowed to be their true selves in the safety of their apartment. Domont wants you to feel the depths of this contrast between the comfort of the home and the brutal reality of their work life, making the thrilling deconstruction all that more impactful.
Yet, Fair Play is far from just a film that examines the destructive nature of relationships built on secrets, but also the power struggles that can arise – especially when a perceived inequality comes to pass. With the opening of a high power position in the company, Fair Play begins to set its chess pieces in motion within its depiction of gender inequality. While Luke was rumored to received the promotion, it goes it Emily. It is heartbreaking as you watch her unable to revel in her success, the anxiety of telling Luke dampening the moment. And while Luke is initially exuberant for her success, distrust begins to sour his perspective, Fair Play leaving the audiences to question who is gaslighting whom at times, and what the true intentions of each character are. The brilliance of Fair Play is the true reality is obvious and constantly reinforced, but even you as an audience will find yourself pulled into doubt on what the true reality is.
Conclusion
As Fair Play executes a thrilling and brilliant depiction of gender inequality and the unraveling of a relationship, it also tackles the ability of the mind to craft its own story. Whether it be for further success or survival, we all have the ability to not only make ourselves see our perceived truth, but others as well. For Fair Play, the success in this theme falls strongly on Domont‘s script and on the performances of its leading pair.
Fair Play is performed to perfection. Ehrenreich’s performance plays with a constant sense of desperation and an insecurity he allows to flourish with each passing beat. Deeply disturbing, Ehrenreich captures the range of Luke’s dissent into a temporary madness that will leave audiences both loving and hating Luke along the way. Luke is far from a stagnant character and Ehrenreich understands each avenue of emotion his character needs for the breadth of his journey.
Dynevor matches Ehrenreich‘s intensity, allowing a deeply understood breadth to her Emily. And as similar as the characters may seem at times, Dynevor is constantly away of how different they truly are. There is a beeping strength in her performance as the film plays out, one that feels intentional in performance and culminates to an epic conclusion of self.
Seductively entice in a high octane world of finance, Fair Play is the thriller of the season.
Fair Play premieres in theaters on September 29, 2023 and will stream on Netflix on October 6, 2023!
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