Pattinson & zendaya's 'the drama' uses thrifted finds and local art to evoke relationship ruin
A24’s latest offering, The Drama, starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, isn’t relying on exotic locales or lavish period costumes to tell its story. Instead, the film’s emotional weight is anchored by a remarkably ordinary Boston apartment, meticulously crafted by production designer Zosia Mackenzie to embody a relationship teetering on the brink.
A normalcy that cuts deep
The film follows Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya) as they navigate a devastating secret just days before their wedding, the tension simmering within the confines of their shared space. Mackenzie’s approach wasn’t about spectacle; it was about cultivating a palpable sense of unease through subtle details. “We really put ourselves in their shoes,” she explains, describing a process that involved immersing herself, the director Kristoffer Borgli, and the photography director Arseni Khachaturan in the local Boston scene.
The result is a set brimming with thrifted furniture, carefully chosen artwork, and an overall lived-in feel. Forget sweeping landscapes—the drama unfolds within the walls of a surprisingly relatable apartment, where the mundane becomes a powerful vehicle for emotional exploration.
Boston’s touch: a curated collection
Mackenzie and her team didn't just decorate; they excavated the city’s aesthetic soul. Thousands of books, sourced from local bookstores, line expansive shelves, reflecting Emma’s profession as a literary editor and acting as a silent commentary on their lives. Vintage furniture, discovered during weekend excursions to the Cambridge Antique Market and even trips to Maine and New York, adds layer upon layer of character. A vibrant 70s’ blue Knoll sofa, a striking centerpiece from Reside Inc. in Cambridge, grounds the space, while Charles Pollock 657 chairs flank it, subtly hinting at Charlie’s connection to the local art world.
Art as a reflection of inner turmoil
The artwork within the apartment isn't merely decorative; it’s integral to the narrative. Mackenzie and her team collaborated with galleries in New York, securing high-resolution images from artists like Sara Cwynar and Eirik Sæther, which were then meticulously printed on linen, canvas, or paper and framed in-house. Tristan Unrau’s unsettling painting, Shambolic Figure, takes center stage above the mantel, a piece Mackenzie describes as “almost like a little bit of a reflection of Charlie.” The deliberate placement and curation of these pieces contribute to the film’s pervasive sense of disquiet.
Even the kitchen, painted a carefully chosen Norway Spruce by Benjamin Moore, plays a role. “It just felt complementary to it,” Mackenzie notes, highlighting the instinctive decisions that guided the design process.
The details that matter
Mackenzie's personal favorites? A $1800 Flo’s orange Snoopy table lamp—a quirky find—and a Marset dipping lamp, discovered serendipitously during a trip to New York, both adding a unique glow to the already atmospheric space. In just three weeks, the design team transformed a blank canvas into a space that felt both authentic and unnervingly familiar, a testament to Mackenzie’s vision and dedication.
The actors, Pattinson and Zendaya, reportedly embraced the set so fully that they spent time barefoot, lounging amongst the curated chaos, further blurring the lines between performance and reality. The Drama proves that sometimes, the most profound stories are told not through grand gestures, but through the quiet intimacy of a lived-in space.