Backlash is mounting over a controversial plot twist in the upcoming romantic comedy 'The Drama,' starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, as critics, including a parent affected by the Columbine tragedy, voice strong objections to its subject matter.
Controversial Plot Details Spark Outrage
The film, written and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli, features Pattinson and Zendaya as a couple whose engagement is jeopardized when Zendaya's character reveals during a parlour game that she once planned a school shooting but withdrew at the last moment. This disclosure occurs as part of a game where participants share 'the worst thing you've ever done,' setting off a chain of emotional turmoil.
Parental Criticism and Advocacy Response
Tom Mauser, whose son Daniel was among the 13 students killed in the 1999 Columbine High School shooting, has publicly condemned the film's approach. In an interview with TMZ, Mauser, who became a gun reform advocate after the massacre, labeled the leveraging of such themes for a romantic comedy as 'awful.' He expressed particular concern over Zendaya's recent comments on the Jimmy Kimmel show, where she described the film as blending multiple genres, including romance and drama, and noted the varied audience reactions to the twist.
Mauser argued that casting a beloved star like Zendaya in this context 'humanises' potential perpetrators and 'normalises' school shootings, even though her character does not carry out the attack and no violence is depicted on screen. This criticism highlights ongoing sensitivities around media portrayals of real-life tragedies.
Studio Strategy and Critical Reception
A24, the studio behind 'The Drama,' has opted for limited screenings to avoid spoilers, with early reviews from a select group of U.S. critics being broadly positive. Reviews are embargoed until March 31, and The Guardian has reached out to the film's UK distributors for further comment. This cautious release strategy contrasts with the film's provocative content, which has already stirred significant debate.
Historical Context of Columbine in Film
The controversy echoes past cinematic treatments of the Columbine shootings. Gus Van Sant's 2003 drama 'Elephant,' inspired by the event, won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, while Michael Moore's documentary on the massacre received an Oscar the same year. More recently, 'All the Empty Rooms,' a documentary short about bedrooms left by children killed in school shootings, won an Academy Award earlier this month, underscoring the enduring impact and artistic exploration of such tragedies.
As 'The Drama' prepares for wider release, the backlash underscores the delicate balance filmmakers must strike when addressing sensitive real-world issues in entertainment, with audiences and advocates closely watching how these narratives unfold.
