Fair Play movie storyline. The future is looking bright for Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich). Not only do they both work at a buzzing financial firm in New York City, but they’ve just gotten engaged, too (though they’re keeping their relationship a secret from their workplace at the moment). But when the chance for a big promotion comes along, cracks start to form in the foundation of the supportive couple’s relationship. Writer-director Chloe Domont’s unflinching feature film debut asks how far (and how low) people will go to rise to the top.
Fair Play is a 2023 American erotic psychological thriller film written and directed by Chloe Domont in her feature directorial debut. Starring Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan, and Rich Sommer, the film focuses on a young couple whose relationship begins to unravel following an unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund firm. Rian Johnson was an executive producer on the film.
Fair Play premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, and was released in select theaters on September 29, 2023, before its streaming release by Netflix on October 13, 2023. For its European premiere, the film was shown in the section Feature Film Competition of the 19th Zurich Film Festival in late September 2023.
About the Story
Emily Meyers and Luke Edmunds, analysts at the cutthroat Manhattan hedge fund One Crest Capital, are in a secret passionate relationship unbeknownst to their coworkers. He proposes to her while at his brother’s wedding and, after a moment’s hesitation, she happily accepts. The next day, one of the company’s portfolio managers is fired. Emily tells Luke she overheard her colleagues mention that Luke was being considered as a replacement and they celebrate that night. At a late-night meeting with Campbell, the firm’s CEO, she learns she will be receiving the promotion. Emily reluctantly breaks the news to Luke, but he expresses his support.
As Emily settles into her new job, Luke’s resentment over not being promoted becomes increasingly apparent, leading to tensions in their relationship. Luke becomes consumed with the work of a self-help guru coaching people on how to assert themselves in the workplace. When Emily questions his spending $3,000 on the course, Luke suggests she could benefit from becoming more assertive, to which she becomes defensive. He rebuffs her attempts to initiate sex and goes to bed.
While out for drinks with Campbell and Paul, a senior executive at the fund, Emily learns Campbell wants rid of Luke, considering him ineffectual. She attempts to advocate more for Luke in the workplace, but it backfires when he makes a poor trading call that loses the company $25 million, leading to Campbell insulting her. Luke attempts to recover by feeding Emily insider information confirming the alleged collapse of a company whose stock the fund can short. Concerned about the trade being illegal, she recommends Campbell short another company, which worksl. When the short sale is closed, Emily receives a $575,000 commission check.
Emily considers celebrating her success with Luke, who is in her office after hours to discuss strategies for future trades but opts to go to a strip club with her male co-workers. She comes home intoxicated while he, after seeing the check, has no interest in having sex with her. When another portfolio manager is fired the next day, Luke wants Emily to recommend him for the role, but she hints Campbell is not interested in promoting him. He goes to Campbell’s office and makes an elaborate speech pledging his loyalty to him, only to learn Campbell has already hired a new portfolio manager.
Fair Play (2023)
Directed by: Chloe Domont
Starring: Phoebe Dynevor, Alden Ehrenreich, Eddie Marsan, Rich Sommer, Sebastian de Souza, Sia Alipour, Brandon Bassir, Geraldine Somerville, Patrick Fischler, Laurel Lefkow, Linda Ljoka
Screenplay by: Chloe Domont
Production Design by: Steve Summersgill
Cinematography by: Menno Mans
Film Editing by: Franklin Peterson
Costume Design by: Kate Forbes
Set Decoration by: Milan Damnjanovic, Sonja Nenadic
Art Direction by: Ivana Lovre, Srdjan Nedeljkovic
Music by: Brian McOmber
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, sexual content, some nudity, and sexual violence.
Distributed by: Netflix
Release Date: January 20, 2023 (Sundance), September 29, 2023 (United States)
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