The new film, simply titled The Drama, arrived with a considerable buzz. The pairing of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson alone guaranteed attention, a combination studios dream of. But beneath the surface of its provocative premise – a young, successful Boston couple navigating a very modern marital crisis – lies a surprising hesitancy. What’s being touted as a taboo-busting exploration of desire and dissatisfaction feels, nervously evasive, more concerned with maintaining a cool distance than truly delving into the messiness of its subject matter. The film’s central question – can a relationship survive radical honesty? – is posed, but never fully wrestled with.
Director Luciana Rossi, known for her visually striking but often emotionally detached work, seems more interested in aestheticizing the couple’s discontent than in understanding it. The film leans heavily into a stylized, almost performative sadness, with long takes of Pattinson and Zendaya staring meaningfully into the middle distance. While both actors deliver technically proficient performances, they’re hampered by a script that prioritizes ambiguity over genuine emotional exploration. The initial marketing campaign promised a searing indictment of modern relationships, but the finished product feels strangely muted, a whisper where a shout was expected. The film opened in limited release on Friday, November 3, 2023, and has already sparked debate online, though much of that discussion centers on the perceived gap between expectation and reality.
A Premise Ripe for Discomfort
The story centers on Julian (Pattinson) and Olivia (Zendaya), a couple who appear to have it all: a beautiful home in Beacon Hill, successful careers (he’s a novelist, she’s a digital marketing executive), and a seemingly effortless social life. However, beneath the polished facade, cracks are beginning to show. Their attempts to spice things up with increasingly unconventional “truth games” – a device borrowed from couples therapy, but pushed to deliberately uncomfortable extremes – form the core of the narrative. These games, initially intended to foster intimacy, quickly spiral into a series of escalating revelations and passive-aggressive confrontations.
The film attempts to tackle themes of infidelity, emotional neglect, and the pressures of maintaining a perfect image in the age of social media. However, it does so with a frustrating lack of specificity. The nature of Julian’s past indiscretions, for example, is hinted at but never fully revealed. Olivia’s dissatisfaction with her career is similarly sketched in broad strokes, leaving the audience to fill in the blanks. This deliberate ambiguity, while perhaps intended to be thought-provoking, ultimately feels like a cop-out, preventing the film from truly engaging with the complexities of its themes.
Performances and Style Over Substance
Zendaya and Pattinson are undeniably compelling to watch. Their chemistry is palpable, even when the script fails to provide them with substantial material. Pattinson excels at portraying Julian’s brooding cynicism, while Zendaya brings a quiet intensity to Olivia’s simmering resentment. However, even their considerable talents can’t fully salvage a film that feels fundamentally hollow. The performances feel constrained by the film’s overall aesthetic, which prioritizes style over substance.
Rossi’s directorial choices – the muted color palette, the deliberate pacing, the frequent use of long takes – create a mood of oppressive ennui. But this mood, while visually striking, ultimately feels empty. The film lacks a sense of urgency or emotional stakes. It’s as if Rossi is afraid to truly confront the darkness at the heart of her story, preferring to observe it from a safe distance. Critics at IndieWire noted the film’s “aesthetic precision” but lamented its “emotional detachment.”
The Limits of Taboo-Busting
The Drama positions itself as a daring exploration of taboo subjects, but its reluctance to fully commit to its premise ultimately undermines its ambitions. The film touches on themes of open relationships, emotional manipulation, and the commodification of intimacy, but it does so in a way that feels cautious and calculated. It’s as if the filmmakers are more concerned with avoiding controversy than with genuinely challenging conventional norms.
This hesitancy is particularly evident in the film’s handling of its central conflict. The “truth games” that Julian and Olivia engage in are presented as a catalyst for self-discovery, but they often feel contrived and manipulative. The film never fully explores the ethical implications of these games, nor does it offer any real insight into the underlying dynamics of the couple’s relationship. The result is a film that feels intellectually dishonest, a surface-level exploration of complex issues. The film’s runtime is 1 hour and 48 minutes, according to IMDb.
The Drama is a disappointment. It’s a beautifully shot, well-acted film that is ultimately undone by its own timidity. While it may spark conversation, it’s unlikely to exit a lasting impression. The film’s exploration of modern relationships feels less like a revelation and more like a carefully curated performance, a stylish but ultimately empty gesture. The initial hype surrounding the film, fueled by the star power of Zendaya and Pattinson, proved to be largely misplaced.
The film’s distributor, A24, has not yet announced plans for a wider release. The next scheduled event related to the film is a Q&A session with director Luciana Rossi at the New York Film Festival on November 18, 2023.
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