Fair Play: A Gripping Story of Love, Betrayal and Revenge in the Corporate World
Fair Play is a 2023 South Korean film written and directed by Chloe Domont, who made her feature debut with the acclaimed horror film The Call. The film stars Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich as a couple who work as financial analysts at the same investment firm, but their relationship is tested when one of them gets promoted over the other. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2023, where it received positive reviews and was acquired by Netflix for $20 million. The film was released globally on Netflix on October 6, 2023.
Plot Summary
Fair Play follows the story of Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich), who meet at a wedding in New York and fall in love. They keep their relationship a secret from their colleagues, as they work at the same competitive investment firm, where dating is forbidden. They also compete for the same project manager position, which becomes vacant after the previous holder is fired.
Emily gets the promotion, much to Luke’s surprise and dismay. He feels insecure and resentful of Emily’s success, and starts to sabotage her work and undermine her authority. He also becomes obsessed with a self-help guru (David Dastmalchian), who preaches a misogynistic ideology that encourages men to assert their dominance over women.
Emily tries to support Luke and help him advance his career, but he rejects her efforts and becomes increasingly hostile and abusive. He also cheats on her with another woman, who turns out to be a spy sent by a rival firm. Luke plots to ruin Emily’s reputation and steal her clients, but his plan backfires and he loses everything.
Emily confronts Luke at their apartment, where he attempts to rape her. She fights back and stabs him with a knife, leaving him bleeding on the floor. She then leaves him for good and moves on with her life.
Review
Fair Play is a compelling and provocative film that explores the themes of gender, power and revenge in the modern corporate world. The film exposes the toxic masculinity and misogyny that pervade the workplace, where women are often discriminated against and harassed by men who feel threatened by their achievements. The film also examines the psychological effects of such an environment on both men and women, and how it can destroy their relationships and self-esteem.
The film is well-written and directed by Chloe Domont, who creates a tense and thrilling atmosphere that keeps the audience engaged throughout. The film also benefits from the excellent performances of its lead actors, Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich, who portray their complex and flawed characters with nuance and emotion. Dynevor shows her range as an actress, as she plays Emily’s transformation from a sweet and naive woman to a confident and assertive leader. Ehrenreich also delivers a convincing performance as Luke, who gradually descends into madness and violence as he loses his grip on reality.
The film’s action scenes are well-choreographed and executed, with some realistic and brutal moments that shock and disturb the viewers. The film’s cinematography is also impressive, as it captures the contrast between the glamorous and sleek settings of the financial world and the dark and gritty scenes of violence and betrayal. The film’s music score is also fitting, as it adds to the suspense and drama of the film.
Fair Play is not a flawless film, however. The film’s plot is somewhat predictable and clichéd, as it follows a familiar formula of a love story gone wrong due to jealousy and ambition. The film also lacks depth and subtlety in its portrayal of its characters and their motivations, as it relies heavily on stereotypes and tropes to convey its message. The film also suffers from some pacing issues, as it sometimes feels too slow or too fast in its development.
Conclusion
Fair Play is an entertaining and intriguing film that offers a timely commentary on the gender dynamics and challenges that women face in the corporate world. The film showcases Phoebe Dynevor’s talent and charisma as a leading actress, and it delivers some thrilling and shocking scenes that will keep you hooked until the end. The film is not without its flaws, but it is still worth watching if you are a fan of Korean cinema or thriller dramas.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Cast
- Phoebe Dynevor as Emily
- Alden Ehrenreich as Luke
- Eddie Marsan as Campbell
- David Dastmalchian as Guru
- Lee Hak-joo as Boss
- Lee Seung-hoon as Pharmacist
- Kim Dong-young as Legless Man
- Kim Hyun-mok as Front Desk Man
- Lee Sang-hee as Old Woman
- Park Myung-shin as Old Man
Trailer
You can watch the official trailer for Fair Play here.
Release Date
Fair Play was released globally on Netflix on October 6, 2023.
0 Comments