Working with your lover may seem like a dream come true, but as the new Netflix thriller ‘Fair Play’ shows, it can quickly turn into a nightmare. The film, directed by Domont, explores the gradual unravelling of a couple’s relationship as they navigate the complexities of power dynamics and gender roles in both the office and the home.
Unlike many other movies that depict explosive breakups, ‘Fair Play’ takes a more realistic approach. The relationship between Emily and Luke experiences a slow, torturous demise instead of a dramatic implosion. This portrayal is a much fairer representation of the inherent nature of sexism, which often lurks beneath the surface of our psyches and slowly oozes out when holes are poked in our righteous facades.
Emily, the protagonist, finds herself juggling multiple roles as she tries to mitigate the fallout from the power imbalance in the office and find equilibrium in her relationship with Luke. She showcases a frenzy in her attempts to appease him sexually, financially, and by promising him equal power. Her acclimatization to her new position is interesting to watch, but it is Luke who steals the show.
Surrounded by vulgar, short-tempered men, Luke becomes a compelling character study. Domont expertly captures the desperation of his situation as he internally negotiates his responses to Emily. We see him grappling with what is appropriate to say and what he should hold back. Luke’s ego, which is built on traditional gender roles, is fragile and requires an aspirational male figurehead.
At first, that figurehead is Campbell, his boss in the company. Luke confesses to Campbell, “You have become my god,” as he kneels before him, mirroring the position he used to propose to Emily. However, as his disillusionment grows after being passed over for a promotion, Luke sets his sights on a business guru he discovers online. He invests thousands of dollars in the guru’s course and adopts the traditional values espoused in the guru’s book.
One passage from the book leads Luke to criticize the way Emily dresses and presents herself. This moment highlights the toxic influence of external sources on a relationship and the dangers of basing one’s vitality on outdated gender norms.