Written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama is one-part social satire and one part rom-com about good people doing bad things, and the people who judge them. Be forewarned, The Drama has a secret A24 did their best to keep that way. Since the film has been out in the United States since April, I’ve decided to reveal it here. Stop reading now if you don’t want to know the secret.
Troubled by Emma’s revelation, Charlie is no longer sure he can marry her. While Emma’s actions aren’t easy to dismiss, her friends label her a psychopath more than once but never ask her why she thought of doing something so horrific. Was she being bullied? Memories of the planning make Emma throw up. Further, no one is troubled by their own confessions on that evening, particularly Rachel, who did something horrific to a young mentally challenged neighbor when she was a girl.
Emma and Charlie clearly want their relationship to work. Borgli leans into some rom-com tropes that make this clear—the meet-cute at the coffee shop, the cutesy in jokes, even the end-cute—he’s challenging Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to let us know he understands how ridiculously judgy Emma and Charlie’s friends are.
The two stars are excellent in their roles. Zendaya’s Emma has an anguished quality and occasional bursts of anger that feel real. While acknowledging that her anger can be difficult to deal with, she feels understandable resentment toward her friends for quickly labeling her psychopath. Robert Pattinson does a good job at conveying the kind of mental gymnastics his brain is going through after learning a dark secret about the woman he loves.
A native 4K production shot on film; the Dolby Vision/HDR image looks excellent. Presented in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio, sharpness is impressive, with only a few brief shots exhibiting minimal softness. A nice level of grain looked natural throughout. The color palette appears strong, leaning toward amber and teal. The film is decidedly dark at times, showcasing impressively inky blacks. There are no scratches or other anomalies in evidence.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack gave things a fuller soundfield than expected. Effects are given nice punch when necessary, and Daniel Pemberton’s music adds to the overall feel of scenes. Dialogue is clean, clear and concise throughout.
English SDH and Spanish subtitles are available.
The following extras are included:
- Audio Commentary with Costume Designer Katina Danabassis, Production Designer Zosia Mackenzie, & Co-editor Joshua Raymond Lee
- “Unpacking the Drama” Making-of Featurette
- Wardrobe & Camera Test with Commentary by Katina Danabassis
- “Relationship Hotline” Promo
- Charlie & Emma Wedding Video
- Set of six collectible postcards illustrated by Kristina Tzekova
