Review: The Drama

Directed by: Kristoffer Borgli

Written by: Kristoffer Borgli

Starring: Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie, Hailey Benton Gates

Rating: [4.5/5]

When you’ve reached the stage in a relationship where you choose to marry your partner, it comes with a level of commitment to that individual. A love so strong you forsake everything single life affords you and trade it in for an eternity with the person you know and love. The Drama posits the question of what news you could learn about your loved one that could completely recontextualize that person in your eyes and the appropriate reaction to said news. Difficult subject matter allowing for fertile ground for discussion. 

Preparing for their upcoming wedding, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) have reached the stage of finalizing all of the details. When at a dinner with their friends, everyone is dared to share the worst thing they have ever done. When Emma shares her truth, it takes everyone aback to the point it threatens the upcoming wedding but also the very friendships she has built. 

If you’ve heard anything about The Drama, it typically involves the incredible revelation Emma makes when speaking on the worst thing she has ever done. A confession she makes so nonchalantly but completely upends the mood and trajectory of this story. I cannot possibly reveal that to anyone reading this review and has not seen the film, but trust me, not in my wildest dreams did I think Emma would share what she did. While I will not speak into the specifics, there remains plenty to speak on as the larger topic at hand does not necessarily hinge on Emma’s confession but rather the reaction of others to this new information and how that reflects on their character. 

The progression of where the film starts and its extreme divergence truly works wonders where we begin with Charlie trying to build up the courage to speak to Emma and see how everything blossoms between them. Everything happens so perfectly as they have the appearance of a great couple leading all the way up to the dinner where the confession transpires. You feel the oxygen in the room immediately evaporate, and you know the individuals in that room will never look at Emma the same ever again. It does raise the question of if my wife had shared the same information with me, how would I have reacted? Everyone will have a similar experience in trying to decipher their own response.

Happiness turns to fear, and general companionship devolves into a complete lack of empathy for something done in the past. Each person’s reaction says so much about them given that their confessions centered on actions they committed, while Emma’s centered on thoughts and feelings but ultimately a lack of action. However, the way we view even the thoughts that lead to Emma’s ultimate inaction somehow, in the eyes of these characters, does not deserve any compassion. Each conversation further illustrates this point, and while we can critique the reactions of Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie), much more intrigue lies with the groom-to-be, Charlie. 

At the end of the day, he’s the one marrying Emma. He will put a ring around her finger and promise to love her through thick and thin, but this news makes him question if he can make that vow. It makes him question if he even knows his fiancée as well as he should before entering into the binding contract of marriage. This information completely derails this man, as he cannot process what to do next, and it allows Robert Pattinson to shine through this role. Pattison can fit into any type of character, but the manic and terrified individual he portrays with Charlie allows him to tap into an energy he can effortlessly unleash for our entertainment. 

Even with the film centering on the reaction to this news, the heart of this film lies with Emma. Obviously, she had never told another soul about this, and only through the heavy consumption of wine and within a space where she felt safe did she become comfortable sharing this information, only for it to blow up in her face. Zendaya brilliantly captures the hurt and the shame that come with the reality of what Emma must now face. A distinct sadness emanates in each of her scenes as she witnesses the love of her life go from vowing to her love unconditionally to fearing being in the same room as her. A tragedy, and despite this all, she, more than anyone else, maintains a higher level of empathy, making this whole endeavor even more heartbreaking for her. Zendaya displays a vulnerability through this performance that usually does not come through as clearly in her other film roles, making this some of the best work she has ever done. 

Testing the true limits of love and what’s ultimately a forgivable and redeemable misdeed, The Drama creates a bevy of uncomfortable societal circumstances that pulls the mirror right up to the audience. It pushes the characters involved to display their true levels of empathy and how they will allow an inaction from the past to paint how they permanently view someone fully formed before them. Plenty of individuals make a fool of themselves in the process, only further adding to the overall entertainment value this film provides from beginning to end. Quite the apt title with strong performances from all involved, exceptionally crafted by Kristoffer Borgli, who brought out the very best from his assembled cast.