The throuple-kissing scene has propelled much of the online conversation about the new Luca Guadagnino film Challengers. Starring Zendaya (as Tashi Donaldson), Mark Faist (as husband Art), and Josh O’Connor (as Patrick), the film is set in the world of pro tennis and examines what can only be described as an ‘It’s Complicated’ relationship between the three protagonists. 

The screenplay comes from Jason Kuritzkes, who’s been interviewed, saying that watching the Naomi Osaka—Serena Williams match at the 2018 US Open hooked him on tennis and its cinematic potential. He began writing the Challengers screenplay in 2021, and it may be something of a surprise to learn that Jason is the husband of Celine Song, who wrote and directed last year’s Past Lives. 

So yes, as Celine has proclaimed Past Lives as highly autobiographical, Jason would be the Westerner husband depicted in the award-winning film—the one who comes in between the reunion of the two Koreans as adult lovers. One sees a connection between the two films, a connection that goes beyond how three persons are intimately involved in the two screenplays. 

However, whereas Past Lives was restrained and muted in its presentation of the trio of star-crossed lovers, Challengers could be seen as Jason having the last laugh. His Challengers is loud, brash, audacious, and even funny at all levels, whereas Past Lives is subtle and nuanced.

Zendaya is the revelation here, carrying the film in a manner she was not asked to in previous film outings. Her Tashi is a pure alpha female, an up-and-coming college player whose promising career was cut short when her knee gave way. Forced to coach and manage, she eventually takes on the job of Art, and marries him. This is even though it was Patrick with whom she first had an amorous relationship. Left unspoken but alluded to is the attraction and deep friendship between Art and Patrick, from when they were junior players, and how Tashi is the self-proclaimed home-wrecker. 

Guadagnino does a great job directing, and bringing us into the tennis matches so that it’s not just sport, but an emotional encounter. By achieving this, it doesn’t matter whether one is a tennis fan or not. One sees the match as a metaphor for something deeper and subliminal. And you’ll love how he constantly breaks the mood and moments that he’s built up - like a kissing scene and someone putting trash in a dumpster. 

As for Kuritzkes, there’s an abundance of inside jokes and little asides that inject humor into the dialogue… and lack of dialogue. The Donaldson child once mentioned wanting to watch SpiderVerse, and we all know of Zendaya’s involvement in SpiderMan films. The complexities of the relationships are a joy to watch and evaluate. While Tashi is married to Art, she’s come to loathe him for being so dependent on her. Patrick is an abject failure and immature, but we see the attraction and charm. Art is so needy that we understand why Tashi has lost respect for the man and needs a challenge. 

On the strength of Challengers, Jason is no longer a struggling writerbut one of the most sought-after in Hollywood. He’s been tapped to work again with Guadagnino on Luca’s next film, an adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel Queer - and Jason is also working on the screenplay of Don Winslow’s City on Fire - both high-profile projects.   

Challengers practically mock Love and proclaim it’s only Lust that lasts. It’s an interesting perspective, and when it’s so humorously projected on screen, we can’t help but be amused and entertained and give this film our two thumbs up.