In the current cinematic climate, an adult-oriented sports drama centered around tennis as an elaborate metaphor for sexual frustration doesn’t necessarily seem like a surefire hit, and yet Challengers has proven to be a commercial success as well as a critical one, opening at number one in the US box office when it was released this past April.
Camera Operator had the chance to speak with A camera operator Bianca Butti about working on the film—from the way camera movement underscores the film’s sense of rising tension, to capturing every beat of the carefully choreographed tennis matches.
During the US Open, friends Patrick Zweig and Art Donaldson meet tennis prodigy Tashi Duncan and immediately begin competing for her affection. The pair quickly twists into rivalry both on the court and off before ultimately ending their friendship.
Thirteen years later, Tashi and Art are married; Art is now a fading star ready to quit the game, while Tashilives her unrealized dreams through Art after an injury put an early end to her career. In the midst of this, Art enters a Challenger event as a wild card where he ends up-once again-competing against Patrick. Challengers is directed by Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay by Justin Kuritzkes. It stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist.
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David Daut 