Robert Pattinson (Charlie Thompson) and Zendaya (Emma Harwood) in 'The Drama,' directed by Kristoffer Borgli. METROPOLITAN FILMEXPORT
LE MONDE'S VERDICT – WORTH SEEING
After just four feature films, Kristoffer Borgli's reputation has soared. After his little-noticed debut, Drib (2017) – a mockumentary about a comedian specializing in stunts who tries to become the face of an energy drink ad campaign – the 40-year-old Norwegian filmmaker made it to the Cannes Film Festival with Sick of Myself (2022). Selected for the Un Certain Regard section, the film portrays a young woman so desperate for attention that she goes as far as altering her body.
Since then, Borgli has moved to Hollywood under the A24 studio banner. First came Dream Scenario (2023), in which Nicolas Cage played a man who appeared in the dreams of others, making his own life unbearable. Now, he returns with The Drama, starring two cinematic heavyweights: Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
Throughout his rise, Borgli has maintained his distinctive quirkiness, twisting Hollywood conventions to explore the shifting ground of biting comedy. The son of a social anthropologist, the director infuses his films with observations of contemporary life, his own experiences, and the existential questions they inspire – all with a deft sense of satire. His way of pushing characters to their limits sometimes suggests Ruben Östlund, though he never succumbs to moralistic point-scoring.
