“What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?” Seven words incite the explosive action in Kristoffer Bogli’s film “The Drama.” Where does one draw the line for forgiveness, and how does one live with agonizing lies?
“The Drama,” starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, was released on April 3 to much anticipation. It follows fiancées Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Pattinson) after Emma reveals a dark secret about her past, just days before their wedding. Charlie grapples with his changing perception of Emma and the repercussions of the reveal, all while handling the chaos of wedding planning. Spanning just a few days in its one-hour, 45-minute running time, the film follows the pair’s unraveling relationship, making for a debatable and engrossing film.
The movie opens with Emma and Charlie’s meet-cute at Tatte, a staple Boston cafe. From the jump, “The Drama” presents itself as a romantic comedy. Early trailers highlighted the blossoming relationship between the couple and their grandiose wedding, but as scenes of intense action and moral contemplation pile up early on, it becomes obvious that the movie is anything but comedic.
The turning point of the film is a wedding menu tasting with the couple and their friends, Rachel (Alana Haim) and Mike (Mamoudou Athie). Debating second chances, the group decides to share their deepest, darkest secrets. When it’s Emma’s turn, she reveals (spoiler alert!) that when she was 15, she planned a school shooting.
Having a cousin who survived a mass shooting, Rachel feels personally offended. Despite her personal connections to the secret, her similarly inexcusable secret (she locked a neurodivergent kid in the closet of an abandoned trailer overnight) makes her reaction overdramatic and fuels much of the tension throughout “The Drama.”
Charlie’s reaction to Emma’s secret is also captivatingly debatable. A seemingly reserved person, he first laughs it off as if it were a joke. But as the night goes on, partly because of Rachel, Charlie starts to realize the gravity of the secret, and envisions his soon-to-be wife as a killer. While his imagination provides comedic images throughout the film, it also highlights how a lack of communication between the two stymies their relationship.
The most interesting part about this movie is the conversations it sparks. Its central plot is based on the theme of judgment: can you judge someone else while ignoring your own flaws? The film’s characters answer the question in different ways, and leave the audience wondering what they would do if they were in their situation. Can we forgive Emma’s actions?
I say yes. While Emma’s secret may not be received well, her growth shows that change is possible. Rachel’s (inappropriate) reaction may sway some viewers to her side, but the fact that Emma never went through with her plan—and actively took steps to change herself afterwards—makes her actions excusable. If anything, Rachel’s locking a child in a closet and never taking responsibility, even after being confronted, should be the main discussion point of the film.
While the movie’s plot certainly triggers audience reflection, “The Drama” wouldn’t be the same without its intense action and brilliant acting. When everything goes wrong at Charlie and Emma’s wedding, the tension between the couple explodes. It feels like a relief when the conflict finally comes to its climax, where Zendaya and Pattinson’s fabulous performances engross the audience in their tension.
While the plot is undeniably chaotic, the film feels oddly comforting. The setting, Boston’s South End, and the quaint architecture paint a dream-like reality for the two, even as their connection crumbles. The tone and backdrop have a similar aesthetic to the show “Gilmore Girls” and the movie “When Harry Met Sally.” Because of these aspects, the movie may slide its way into the canon of “comfort movies,” despite its central conflict.
As a film, “The Drama” lives up to its name perfectly. With its many twists and turns, it is truly an engrossing movie packed with both drama and intense discussions. Its intensely contemplative subject matter is thought-provoking for discussion, and its action is amazing for a packed theater. If you’re looking for a fun time, “The Drama” will undoubtedly deliver.
