Watch Chevalier

Chevalier is a 2015 Greek film that explores the boundaries of masculinity, competition, and friendship. The movie is directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari and stars Vangelis Mourikis, Nikos Orfanos, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos, among other talented actors. The story follows a group of six men who embark on a sailing trip in the Aegean Sea. During the trip, the men decide to play a game called 'Chevalier', a competition where they must rate each other's skills and performances in various areas from cooking to stamina. The game is complex and all-encompassing, it quickly becomes apparent that the stakes are high as the men become more and more competitive.

The core of the film revolves around the dynamics between the men, as they navigate their relationship with one another in the context of the game. Each contestant's insecurities and vulnerabilities come to the surface as the competition gets more intense, exposing the complexities of their personalities and relationships. One by one, each man begins to show a different side of himself, and their dynamics start to change as the game reaches its climax.

The film is known for its darkly comic tone, as it examines the absurdity of competitive masculinity from a critical perspective. It shows the dangers of competition when it becomes all-encompassing, making the men lose sight of what really matters, ultimately leading to psychological breakdowns and relational tension. This is highlighted most effectively by the use of a Chevalier questionnaire, where the men rate each other in categories ranging from their physical appearance to their ability to drive a stick shift. This kind of attention to detail and the actual structure of competitiveness allows the viewer to understand how masculinity can be codified, reduced, and amplified by rules.

The movie is essentially a character study, which emphasizes the nuanced differences in personality and behavior between the six men. Tsangari highlights various traits about each contestant that make them unique, including age, occupation, and familial status. Simultaneously, these differences contribute further to the competition itself, as each man tries to assert his dominance over the others in any way possible.

One of the major themes running throughout the film is the idea of self-awareness. Tsangari employs satirical humor to show characters as disconnected from the reality of their situation. The movie presents the men's inability to see the inherent absurdity of the competition, leading us to realize that they are more invested in the game than their personal relationships. The lack of self-awareness is also highlighted by the twisted logic and absurdity of the 'Chevalier' game itself, where the criteria for winning is intentionally vague and nebulous.

The cinematography of the film is visually stunning, the film's concerns are expressed through masterful cinematography which captures the brilliant blues of the Aegean Sea and the stark contrasts of the barren island hills; the visuals complement the dark humor of the script perfectly. The shot composition also effectively highlights the different personalities and shifting dynamics between the characters. The camera is unstable, favoring jittery shots, and often does not linger on a given moment too long, which contributes to the frenetic and manic nature of the competition.

Overall, Chevalier is a unique film that explores the complexities and vicissitudes of masculinity via the absurd competition. The film delivers a message that the concepts of success, achievement, and competition often come at a great cost to one's relationships and identity. The movie manages to be subtle yet profound, and despite its dark themes, it is an entertaining and thought-provoking watch. It is a film that inspires contemplation and self-reflection, effectively shaking up notions of masculinity and brings them into the present day.

Chevalier is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 76.