Squash

Two businessmen, Alexandre and his boss, play a game of squash. The game escalates from "fun" to fairly high stakes, as both players demonstrate that squash is a mental game, not just a physical game.

The recently employed "Alexandre" (Malcolm Conrath) turns up late for a game of squash with his boss (Éric Savin) and so having to, rather humiliatingly, change into his kit in double-quick time they begin the game. It looks like the younger lad is no slouch, but then the psychology kicks in. "Charles" was just letting him win - couldn't he tell? Then the temperature notches up some more as a critique on his work - and one recent failure - is mentioned; then questions about what went on in the hotel room with "Nicole" afterwards? Perhaps "Alexandre" isn't the man "Charles" thought? Maybe he ought to be fired? Perhaps they could play out the game with his job as the prize or the forfeit? I'm not sure this needed to be all but thirty minutes long, but the tension is managed very well by both men and director Lionel Bailliu, and there is some impressively intrusive camerawork from the squash court that gets us up close and personal with a scenario that is turning into something anything but sportsmanlike. There's also an unpredictability to it that's wrapped in a little bit of very dark humour and it takes it's competitiveness from the court to the office, the bedroom and almost the hospital as neither man is prepared to concede to the other. Be prepared, this doesn't quite end as you might expect and it's a surprisingly compelling watch.