INDEX
‘Challengers’: A Stimulant in Bleak Times
-Both of you have unanimously listed “Challengers” (directed by Luca Guadagnino) as one of the best of the first half of the year.
Kizu: I also have a liking for the filmmaker Luca Guadagnino. What I appreciated about this film was how it turned an inconsequential love triangle into something exhilarating. At a time when the world is so tumultuous with events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s atrocities in Gaza, there are moments when one can’t help but feel mentally weighed down. The exuberance of this film, however, lifted my spirits.
Furthermore, Guadagnino has been following in the tradition of Italian cinema by exploring the concept of eros. His portrayal of eros in a post-Me Too world has left an impression, capturing a refreshing form of eroticism.
Osanai: Previously, you referred to Luca Guadagnino as the “author of summer and eros” on a podcast, and I really love that phrase. After watching the film, I went to a nearby bar where coincidentally another customer who had watched the same episode was sitting at the counter. They said, “It was a grand 3P movie,” and we both laughed.
Kizu: That’s it! [Laughs]
Osanai: It really is that kind of film. In the midst of various diversities portrayed in films since Me Too, the sheer audacity of a movie solely focused on three people aiming for ecstasy was fascinating. It’s a film that excessively depicts male bodies, where I couldn’t help but fixate on the actors’ abs, but that absurdity was just brilliant.
Kizu: I think Guadagnino, while appearing casual, is actually quite conscious of the world post-Me Too. He seems to be challenging how to express eros in American cinema.
Osanai: While it’s a slightly different type, I think we shouldn’t overlook the success of ‘Anyone but You’ (directed by Will Gluck). It suggests something significant that in the post-Me Too era, a typical and overtly sexy romantic comedy featuring predominantly white characters could become such a hit.
Kizu: When macho guys like Glenn Powell show off their nice bodies, they often get comments like “those muscles are just for show,” and they might be caught listening to pop music that’s generally considered cheesy. It’s quite contemporary to depict this kind of “adorable macho” character.
On the other hand, I also sensed a nostalgia for 1980s to 1990s blockbuster movie vibes. I’m a bit concerned that American cinema might be diving into a mood of nostalgia for the past.
