Director's Past Teen Relationship Essay Emerges Before Film Premiere
Kristoffer Borgli, the Norwegian filmmaker directing Zendaya and Robert Pattinson in the upcoming romantic dark comedy The Drama, has found himself at the centre of renewed attention after a 2012 essay he wrote detailing an age-gap romance with a teenage girl resurfaced online this week.
Resurfaced Confession from 2012
The 40-year-old director, who was 27 at the time of writing, penned the printed essay for Norwegian publication D2. The piece has recently come to light again through discussions on Reddit, with translated excerpts being shared by The Hollywood Reporter.
In the essay, Borgli reflected on a relationship he had with a girl who was a decade younger than him, describing her as "a girl ten years younger than me whom I liked very much – a girl who wasn't old enough to vote." He admitted needing to "recalibrate my moral compass" regarding the situation.
Friends' Concerns and Moral Questions
Although the legal age of consent in Norway is 16, Borgli revealed that close friends felt the romance "was not 'within bounds.'" The girl was still in high school when their relationship began, with Borgli recalling waking up next to her in his apartment: "Beside me lay a blonde girl, a high school student enjoying the sporadic holidays in May."
The director wrote about his internal conflict, stating: "I chose to see her that way, to define her by her age, and I chose never to see her again. But you can't choose what the heart wants." Despite this declaration, he acknowledged they maintained contact through Facebook and text messages.
Woody Allen Influence and Previous Relationships
Borgli revealed this wasn't his first experience with a significant age difference in relationships, though previously he had been the younger partner. He specifically referenced Woody Allen's 1979 film Manhattan, which features a 42-year-old character dating a 17-year-old girl portrayed "exclusively in a positive way."
"Then why shouldn't my relationship – with a considerably smaller age difference – in 2012 be 'within bounds?'" Borgli questioned in his essay. "I chose to listen to Woody over my friends." This reference is particularly notable given Allen's own controversial relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, whom he married in 1997 despite a 35-year age gap and her being the adopted daughter of his former partner Mia Farrow.
Social Media Reaction and Film Context
The resurfaced essay has prompted mixed reactions on social media platforms. One Reddit user commented: "Ooooof that's disappointing. Had no idea about this. I liked dream scenario and bought it physical not that long ago. Yuck," while another simply added: "yikes i was not aware of this."
This revelation comes as Borgli prepares for the April 3 release of The Drama, an A24 film starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple whose wedding week takes an unexpected turn. The film has already generated discussion for what some early viewers have described as a "disturbing" plot twist, though others have praised the project ahead of its official release.
Career and Current Projects
Borgli, known for directing 2023's Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage, wrote and directed The Drama, which features additional cast members including Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates and Zoe Winters. The film has been marketed primarily as a wedding comedy but reportedly contains significant narrative surprises.
Despite the resurfaced essay generating discussion, representatives for A24 have not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the matter. Borgli himself described the summer of his teenage romance as "the best and most exotic summer I've ever had" in his 2012 writing.
Zendaya and Pattinson, who star in The Drama, are set to collaborate again on forthcoming projects including Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey, maintaining their professional partnership beyond this controversial director's latest project.
