Some may question the interpretation of Challengers as queer art. Aside from being directed by a gay man, the film is ostensibly about the heterosexual relationship between tennis coach Tashi Duncan (Zendaya) and tennis pros Art Donaldson (Feist) and Patrick Sweig (O’Connor). It depicts a love triangle. Still, culture writer Jing Tsien believes the film’s queer fan base is a testament to its inescapable online presence in the months following the film’s release. Intentionally queer sensibilities. ” Tseng argues that casting Zendaya as an impeccably dressed alpha female tennis coach is not only destined to cause an “awakening of a million lesbians” (particularly lesbian pioneers like Billie Jean King) (Given the sport’s history as an athlete), I think her character has feminine qualities. It is also an icon for gay men. “From the moment they first meet, Tashi bends men to her will,” she says. “It’s a lot like the mid-20th century movie heroines that gay men have been obsessed with for decades.”
The bond between Art and Patrick is the most interesting (and erotic) thing in the film. Officially, the two have gone from best friends to enemies, but their relationship still radiates a sweaty, playful, competitive sexual tension. Kritskes considers Patrick and Art to be “brothers” and “orphans” who were effectively shunned by their wealthy parents and raised in a tennis academy. Near the beginning of the film, the three leads drink cans of beer in a cheap hotel room, and Patrick tells a strangely moving story about how he taught Art how to masturbate when they were dorm roommates as teenagers. Show off. “They’ve been through everything together, and they’ve shared a lot of the intimacy that you would share with someone who grew up together,” Kritkes says. “And whether we admit it or not, there is an implicit buzz of eroticism and repression in all friendships, especially in all male friendships between two men who have literally grown up together since adolescence.” There is a voice.”
There’s a scene early in the movie where Art and Patrick share an impromptu kiss after Tashi makes excuses for the initial three-way relationship. But it’s soon overshadowed by an unexpected homoerotic scene in which the two playfully eat churros together. The moment went viral on social media and was described as the movie’s “”.best sex scene”, some fans reenacted the moment on Halloween. “The relationship between Art and Patrick was always very salient to me. From the first script to every draft of the script, there was a theme of them both eating things shaped like churros, whether it was hot dogs or cigarettes or whatever. “I did,” Kritskes said. , Mike and Josh developed a deeper relationship that became iconic. ”
“Realistic depiction”
Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, written by and starring Richard Gadd, was one of the most talked about TV shows of the year. The film depicts Donnie (Gadd), an aspiring comedian, whose stalker Martha (Jessica Gunning) becomes an overwhelming (and frightening) presence in his life. As Donnie navigates a complicated relationship, he begins to question his own sexuality. We learn about his encounter with Darian (Tom Goodman-Hill), a TV executive who trafficked him with drugs and sexually assaulted him. He also begins dating Teri (Naba Mau), a trans woman he met on a trans dating app.
