New genre flicks like Kristoffer Borgli's The Drama are so few and far between now that so much rests on their shoulders when they are actually given a fair shake of the branch. Particularly when testing out star power in a theatrical setting, as it does for lead Zendaya (and, arguably, Robert Pattinson too), the success of a film like The Drama is fundamental for their survival, and for showcasing the mass appeal of the most influential actors of the moment. But should you RSVP for your invite to The Drama?
In the final days of preparation before their wedding, a drunken game causes Emma to spill a secret that will shatter the perception of her in the eyes of her husband-to-be and their closest friends. Whether their nuptials can survive the revelation depends on whether all parties can keep their heads. Led by Zendaya and Pattinson, The Drama has already stirred up quite the online discourse - but is it worth your time?
A thought-provoking and needfully complex film which rejects black-and-white thinking and invites you into the grey area of morality and growth, The Drama is a gripping and powerful portrayal of ethics, projection and performative virtue. Contemplating heavy-weight themes and engaging with uncomfortable questions that force us to look inward, The Drama is far from an easy watch with its intense, throbbing atmosphere looming over audiences from the start. And yet, thanks to the sharp calibration and shared wavelength of the creative team responsible for the project, it is a surprisingly entertaining and wholly entertaining endeavour too, with some of the biggest laughs from a film this year.
Director Kristoffer Borgli brings a uniquely European sensibility to a distinctively American topic, one that provides the film with a unique vantage point and allows from a sharp satirical and subversive components. Aided by some of the finest film editing of the decade from Borgli and collaborator Joshua Raymon Lee, whose almost lucid approach aids the blurring of fact and fiction to superb effect, Borgli’s vision for the film is so sleekly executed, leading to an artful endeavour that marries the arthouse picture into something accessible to mainstream audiences.
Penned by Borgli, whose talents clearly know no bounds, The Drama is a fascinating and incisive insight into the way outrage is weaponised for moral superiority and influenced by social standing. Measured from the start, The Drama does not prescribe belief, understanding that it would be wrong to — for a film that exists in the grey, it is refreshing that such a trust is placed in its audience to make their own decisions. Not only does this generate a fantastic word-of-mouth, which the film is clearly utilising to boost its box office potential, but it allows for meaningful post-film conversation, which can only encourage the critical thinking needed to approach the film in the first place, engaging audiences in a way that distributors like A24 really thrive in doing.
The film's wedding-set finale act may not end on the most satisfying note, arguably not pushing the drama and the reveal far enough, but there is something surprisingly tender about the way it does; electing implosion rather than explosion, the closing moments recentre the main couple who have become misaligned in the shifting court of public opinion caused by Emma's revelation, and becoming secondary in their own story. But it continues to ring true long after the credits have rolled by thoughtfully holding back, taking us back to the begin of their relationship and discovering something more profound than any chaotic twist could upend.
Zendaya demonstrates further proof of her leading lady capabilities with a star turn that stands alongside her work as Tashi Duncan in 2024’s Challengers as career-best work. Her internal conflict is dealt with with poise and control, with Zendaya imbuing real empathy into Emma while still holding her at arm's length, rendering a richer, more complex portrayal; while the descent into possible madness is evident, it's never overblown or overplayed, proof of a skilled and confident performer. Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson revels in the opportunity to unravel Charlie as his overthinking, rather than the recently-spilled truth, threatens to derail the upcoming wedding.
The Drama is a purposely prickly, well-paced and sharply-executed affair, one that is intentionally designed to keep audiences on their toes, keeping them suitably uncomfortable for much of its run. With two great central performances in its stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, as well as the multi-faceted talents of writer, director and editor Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama is the exact type of film we must fight to retain in our theatrical landscape. Thought-provoking, timely and engaging in a way that transcends the screening room itself. The Drama is an invite you cannot turn down.