While character and story often need to be balanced to create a successful film, certain movies prioritise one over the other to deliver a unique vision (for better or worse). Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama is an effective piece of character-first storytelling which conveys an unfamiliar situation in a highly familiar manner.

Following a revelation from the past, a seemingly perfect couple questions their decision to get married. Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star. The supporting cast includes Alana Haim, Mamoudou Athie and Hailey Gates.

Much like Kristoffer Borgli’s previous work, Dream Scenario, The Drama is centred on societal norms and how preconceived behaviour influences real interactions in the world. But unlike his previous work, Borgli’s new film offers a neater, more impactful approach.

This movie has a barebones story with few twists and turns. The entire plot could be told in a few sentences. But it is the characters in the narrative which add meat to the story’s bones. The most important moments in the script carry through the entire picture, allowing Zendaya and Pattinson to deliver emotional performances in scenes both bombastic and quiet.

Perhaps the story could have been fleshed out with more beats of intrigue or thrills, but the film we have been given is still well-told and frequently quite funny. The central “Drama” is a great choice for this movie, too, as it isn’t what most viewers will expect, but it cuts through to many people’s greatest fears in the modern world.

The Drama is neither a heartpounding thriller nor a movie that will have you on the edge of your seat, but it doesn’t have to be. This is a character-focused story about love and what it takes to commit to a relationship. Deeply relatable and well-crafted, Kristoffer Borgli has delivered a highly enjoyable experience.