Little White Lies #102

The 102nd issue of Little White Lies magazine is here.

Inside the issue:

The Italian writer/director Luca Guadagnino caught the eye of the film world with his lavish and luxuriant 2009 film, I Am Love, in which Tilda Swinton plays out a pursed romance set in the world of gourmet food service. Later, in 2017, he had a deserved mega hit with the wistful country romance, Call Me By Your Name, which connected with a young, curious audience on a profound level. His new film, Challengers, cultivates his connection with that influential audience, a spry and sharp romantic dramady set in the high stakes world of professional tennis.

The film stars Zendaya (who also produces) as Tashi, a charismatic tennis star-in-the-making who catches the eye of two fine prospects, Josh O’Connor’s lairy, louche Patrick, and Mike Faist’s more interior and sensitive Art. As both men playfully jostle for Tashi’s affections, she experiences a professional tragedy that frames her boyish sutors in a new light. This tale of romantic back-and-forth is told via flashback from the blue hard court of a low key “Challenger” competition in which our love rivals meet on court. Their fraught match becomes an outlet for their frustrations and joys, while Tashi must look on and attempt to make sense of the loaded body language that’s been sent across the net.