I recently came across a trailer for “The Drama”, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. As an avid cinema enthusiast, my curiosity got the better of me – I booked a ticket immediately and headed straight to the cinema. This article is going to be my honest review and analysis of what I can only describe as a dramatic masterpiece, exploring not just the plot but also the emotional depth that make “The Drama” such a compelling cinematic experience. (warning:spoilers ahead!).
The plot
To begin with, The Drama is one of those new films that are so different and outstanding, which makes them really difficult to allocate, when it comes to the genre. Honestly, I thought that I’d seen everything, but I get surprised every time I watch something new recently, which makes me think – so glad cinema is getting exciting again! As I mentioned before – there will be spoilers in here so definitely come back after watching it…
To quickly summarise: the film is about a couple who are struggling through their wedding preparation, and we are taken on a journey to witness that. The main plot twist comes when Charlie (Robert Pattison) and Emma (Zendaya), accompanied by their friends, start playing a dinner game based on telling their darkest, deeper secret. We quickly learn Emma’s secret, which leads onto the wave of dramatic events ahead of their ceremony, becoming the main theme for the film. She confesses that she was planning a school shooting after experiencing years of school bullying and feeling like an outsider. Of course that confession is being met with some angry reactions, as well as major distancing from her fiancee Charlie. Let me tell you right now – whoever did the marketing for the movie and put together the trailer deserves a raise, because what is a better advertisement than raising the curiosity of the viewer, leaving us hungry for that bit of main information.
I wrote a couple of comments straight after leaving the cinema:
- First of all, what a complex story building and character development. As the story goes by, characters are going through a major changeover, experiencing ups and downs that they have to face at the end of the day.
- Secondly, there was so much to this film, touching the topic of gun violence and mental health around it, while portraying the side of the perpetrator story and trying to understand it. Us, the viewers are following that story, with the wedding being planned in the background, and what was surprising, but also quite obvious – the film wasn’t about that wedding itself. The story explores both understanding of crime, as well as navigating an issue of dealing with the burden of it. We’re trying to understand both sides of the relationship, while being exposed to their inner thoughts, which is really interesting.
- Thirdly, I thought about gun violence and thow that issue is quite distant and less relevant for us in the UK. I couldn’t really relate to those characters, who took this information so personally and reacted to it almost like she actually committed the crime (she didn’t, moreover later on she joined an anti-gun peace mission). It proves how controversial gun law is in the US and how many people it affects on a daily basis.
Transparency vs privacy
Okay, but off to why I actually decided to write this article – can we, or should we, tell our partners everything? It seems like the film says yes and no at the same time. On one hand that secret almost ruined Emma and Charlie’s relationship, but on the other it made them stronger at the end. I am not a psychologist, however I do believe that there should be a level of ‘safe space’ in a relationship that allows us to open up and be ourselves. Obviously with a healthy limit, because all of the things that make us ‘us’ create who we are. If these things are quite shocking like in the movie, maybe it is better to give a space to digest and work things through. But then there is an important question here – where is the gap between transparency and privacy?
Maintaining healthy personal boundaries and respecting privacy are essential for a strong relationship. While it’s important to be open about core values, past experiences, and any current issues that may affect the relationship, it’s equally important to preserve a sense of individuality. Having personal thoughts, space, and aspects of one’s own history is not only normal but contributes to a balanced and healthy connection.
Should we share everything then? I guess it depends on the person, but it’s important to respect boundaries and each other’s privacy.
Overall experience
Will I watch this film again? No, but only because the second you get to know the main secret there’s no point in watching it again, because the main purpose of the plot is gone, not because the film was bad. I actually really enjoyed the movie, as having been exposed to all of the romantic comedies on Netflix that are all the same, this feels like a breath of fresh air, that challenges the viewers. I loved the acting, the photos, the soundtrack and the general feel of it. Would I recommend watching it on the first date? Hmm maybe not, maybe wait until the third one. or if you listened to the spoiler warning you’ve probably already watched it and I’m hoping you enjoyed it as much as I did.
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