The Drama Review: Kristoffer Borgli’s Challenges Conceal a Deeper Ignorance

      Some critics may argue that The Drama is not centered on race, or if it is, such an element is simply a byproduct of colorblind casting. There is a key reveal—the very element that the entire premise revolves around—early in the film that might resonate differently if it had originated from a white character. It's an aspect that is historically more linked to troubled white American men. However, since this is a film, not reality, The Drama introduces a character that audiences have not encountered on the big screen before.

      Kristoffer Borgli's fourth film features Robert Pattinson and Zendaya as a young couple getting ready for their wedding. During a tasting night for their reception menu, Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson) play a game with their best man, Mike (Mamoudou Athie), and maid of honor Rachel (Alana Haim). They sit around a table, consume wine, and disclose the worst things they have ever done. The turn goes from Mike to Rachel to Charlie until it's finally Emma's moment to share. What she reveals is the pivotal reveal of The Drama, heavily teased in trailers. One might expect the film to focus on this reveal, exploring the implications of Emma’s actions.

      However, it serves a different role in the story: it unveils the underlying dynamics within this friend group and the shaky ground on which Charlie and Emma’s relationship rests. The Drama starts with Charlie crafting his rehearsal dinner speech about falling in love with his future wife. As he types, he reminisces about their meet-cute while conversing with Mike, idealizing Emma as a dream partner—tall, beautiful, funny, and caring. He expresses admiration for her empathy in his speech. Yet, after Emma's revelation later in the film, he erases that line. He continues to delete lines until the entire speech vanishes. This single piece of information is enough for him to question her entire character. Therefore, was every instance of empathy he previously perceived a facade? Is she secretly a villain? This inquiry propels Charlie to undermine his relationship with Emma, culminating in a disastrous rehearsal dinner that results in violence and humiliation for both.

      Zendaya delivers one of her standout performances, showcasing the film's racial dynamics by portraying a perfectly average, loving partner marginalized by the narrative surrounding her. From the outset, it’s evident that Emma is no villain and lacks violent tendencies—at least in the present. Numerous flashbacks show Emma as an awkward teenager (played by Jordyn Curet) with glasses, frizzy hair, and poor social skills. We learn that Emma, a military child, frequently relocated and faced challenges in making friends when her family settled in Louisiana. Her mother, who is white, appears infrequently on-screen, while her Black military father (Damon Gupton) delivers the only good speech at the disastrous rehearsal dinner. Although The Drama does not delve into Emma’s biracial identity or the nature of her interracial marriage, her revelation exposes Charlie's unease about marrying a Black woman.

      Borgli depicts Charlie and Rachel as seemingly progressive, affluent white individuals who panic at the thought that the Black woman they claim to love could have a violent past. In a significant moment, Rachel rushes to distinguish her mild-mannered Black husband from Emma by asserting that he is not only non-violent but also fearful of violence due to his upbringing. Mike promptly challenges this assertion, yet this scene serves as its own Big Reveal: part of Mike’s appeal to Rachel is his portrayal as a benign Black man. Charlie initially perceived Emma as harmless, but now he fears her and struggles to shake the notion that the woman he loves embodies the stereotype of a Mad Black Woman. This irrational fear, despite all contradicting evidence, fuels the film. Racism, not Emma, is the true antagonist of The Drama. Pattinson portrays Charlie as a stereotypical timid white man whose cowardice outweighs his allure. By the conclusion, audiences might wish for Emma to distance herself from him entirely.

      The Drama will be released in theaters on Friday, April 3.