On Saturday, Apr. 3, “The Drama,” starring actors Zendaya Coleman and Robert Pattinson, was released. The romcom, directed by Kristoffer Borgli, consists of an unexpected turn when a soon to be married pair reveal their bare truths of who they used to be. Judgement and tension rose when Coleman’s character, Emma Harwood, exposed a dark secret of her planning a school shooting, but never fully going through with said plan.
“The Drama” deals with themes of empathy, true love, forgiveness, and morality. It carefully questions how well couples really know one another. The film focuses on being an uncomfortable drama, but is also full of comedy and dark romance. The couple confront buried secrets about their past and try to move on just days before their wedding. Pattinson’s character, Charlie Thompson, has a hard time associating Emma’s plan with the person he thought she was, exploring the tension between partners when they have to accept harsh truths about the other.
Both Coleman and Pattinson had raw, emotional performances that compel the audience to have deep conversations, splitting audience beliefs on a basis of their principles and systems of moral conduct. Coleman dives deep into Emma’s internal conflict, highlighting the guilt and disgust she has for herself from when she was a teenager. Charlie attempts to be sympathetic, but he can’t avoid the conflict he feels towards Emma’s actions. The direction balances fast paced, almost eerily uncomfortable tension with awkward humor that makes audiences feel they are in the room with the couple.
The film responsibly deals with the subject of school shootings, making it an analysis of morals instead of a topic just used to shock audiences. The dialogue in the film is realistic and emphasizes how serious a gun violence is. The script mixes this awareness in with the idea of knowing who your partner truly is. What makes it compelling is the discomfort that makes viewers feel they are watching a train wreck and can’t seem to look away. It challenges them to question if love can endure previous intentions.
“The Drama” leaves a lasting impression, whether it resonates with audiences or not. The movie is for people who are comfortable with the uncomfortable, and are willing to take it on in a dark rom-com. It is a strong eye opener that doesn’t offer redemption, and instead focuses on forgiveness in unconditional love.
