Kristoffer Borgli’s new film The Drama is a hilarious and terrifying piece on the nature of modern love. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star as Emma and Charlie, a young engaged couple planning their upcoming wedding, who, when unsavoury aspects of Emma’s past come to light, are forced to reevaluate their relationship. While that synopsis may sound incredibly similar to 70% of all of Hollywood’s middling romantic dramas, what sets The Drama apart from the rest is its transgressive approach to relationship drama itself.
While I am sworn to secrecy as to the specific details of the titular drama, what I can divulge is that Borgli’s film refuses to play it safe and obscures the generic conventions of the romantic drama to study subjects that are typically considered taboo, to great success. Tonally, the film manages to strike the perfect balance between humour and tension and makes great use of black comedy to offer the viewer catharsis in intense moments, while still maintaining the integrity of the drama itself.
Zendaya and Pattinson are incredible as the film’s leads. Zendaya excellently portrays the complexities of Emma’s character, and the strength of her performance allows her character to be a strong focal point for the film. She ties the film together in many ways, and a weaker performance would see the movie completely derail. Pattinson proves once again that he is perhaps the most interesting actor in the industry at the moment, continuing his streak of stellar performances over the last half decade. Charlie is an incredibly compelling character thanks to Pattinson’s great work, and his excellent comedic timing makes him one of the film’s most memorable characters.
Supporting performances from Alana Haim and Mamoudou Athie are also wonderful as married couple Mike and Rachel, serving as strong foils to the chaotic relationship between Emma and Charlie. Formally, The Drama is mesmerizing. Serving as writer, director, and editor, Borgli crafts a film that is unforgettable, and his thematic transgression continues into his formal choices.
Not only is his screenplay incredibly intelligent, but his editing ignores typical conventions to present the narrative in a way that privileges the character’s subjective worldviews and mental states instead of defaulting to an objective and factual detailing of events. He also plays with the linearity of his storytelling, often showing the result of action before going back and showing the action itself, building intrigue and engaging his audience throughout the film. Visually, the film is also excellent, with incredibly beautiful celluloid cinematography and great use of handheld cinematography that makes the viewer feel as though they are involved in the film’s action itself.
Overall, The Drama is an excellent film that is sure to engage and excite you, while also offering thought-provoking commentary on societal taboos through the lens of modern relationships. It is a film that you would be sorry to miss in theaters, and one that will stay with you for years to come.
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