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By Izzy Pezzaioli.
Should your partner know everything about you? Even your deepest darkest secret? This is the question that Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama revolves around; and, if you really love them, can you forgive and forget?
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star in this uncomfortable romantic comedy (if you can call it that), where nobody quite knows what to expect when stepping foot in the cinema. The story follows Emma and Charlie, a happily engaged couple, a week before their wedding, but when the couple decides to share their worst secrets, Charlie is conflicting over whether Emma really is who he thought she was.
Neither of the main characters in The Drama are particularly likeable, but this does not make the film any less enjoyable. Zendaya and Pattinson have great onscreen chemistry, and it is obvious they get along behind the camera, too. However, their dynamic swiftly changes throughout the film, with Emma becoming emotionally guarded and Charlie’s insecurities getting the better of him, their dynamic becomes awkward and hard to watch. Borgli is not interested in creating likeable characters, but the focus lies on the events that are unraveling after the secrets are revealed, and how the characters navigate this.
The plot of The Drama does not rely on what Emma reveals, nor does it matter what it is; the plot’s focus is on the emotional fallout. Through themes of trust and honesty, The Drama explores the emotional aftermath of confession brilliantly. The film is uncomfortable to watch, with multiple scenes leaving viewers covering their eyes, not from fear but from second-hand embarrassment. Borgli stretches awkward conversations and moments of silence unbearably long, forcing the audience to sit with the same discomfort the characters themselves feel.
The muted color palette helps to reflect the emotional distance between the characters, and Borgli also uses tight close-ups and lingering shots to accentuate the discomfort of the characters, and therefore of the viewer. Every scene is unpredictable whether it’ll end in disaster or a humorous moment is unknown, but the audience is left on the edge of their seat, nevertheless.
The Drama is not a conventional romantic comedy, and viewers expecting a lighthearted film may leave disappointed. However, the film portrays a realistic exploration of emotion, deception, and forgiveness in romantic relationships, which makes for an enjoyable and memorable film. While neither Emma nor Charlie are particularly likeable, Zendaya and Pattinson give compelling performances and keep audiences engaged in the characters until the very end. The Drama succeeds because it shows real love; messy, awkward, not always romantic, but real.
