Drama Girl (2020)

Directed by: Vincent Boy Kars | 94 minutes | documentary, drama | Actors: Leyla de Muynck, Pierre Bokma, Elsie de Brauw, Jonas Smulders

The distinction between documentary and feature film has been diluting for some time now. Feature films about historical events increasingly use existing archive material. You also have feature films in which extras play themselves and can even figure entire villages. In addition, you have documentaries that consist of re-enacted scenes from the first to the last minute or that are edited in such a way and provided with music that the events are given a thick subjective charge. And there are hybrid forms, where we just have to guess which is fact and which is fiction.

An example of the attractive last category is the Dutch film ‘Drama Girl’. In it, the (existing) documentary maker Vincent Boy Kars has the (existing) dance student Leyla de Muynck act out scenes from her own life. In those scenes, Leyla plays herself, while her environment (parents, boyfriend) is portrayed by acclaimed actors. As a viewer, you see the re-enacted scenes as well as the conversations about those scenes as well as the director’s interventions.

Confusing? Not too bad. Fascinating? Of course. Because of all the metal layers you as a viewer are put to work hard. Not only to determine what is true and what is not, but above all to reflect on that elusive concept of ‘truth’. Is there a ‘truth’ outside the incomprehensible world of elementary physics or is truth a human construct to which every person has his own copyright?

Beautiful compositions, beautiful use of color and tight frames ensure that it all looks beautiful. That also applies to Leyla de Muynck, with her stylish outfits, weird key earrings and disarming appearance. Visual style and decoration are more reminiscent of a feature film than a documentary.

Unfortunately ‘Drama Girl’ lacks some meat on the bones. Leyla’s life has its ups and downs, but it’s not really special. Especially the difficult conversations with her boyfriend will only interest some millennials. The relationship with her parents has more dramatic potential, but much remains unspoken. Matters that are briefly mentioned are hardly elaborated upon.

In the end, it’s the form and style that make this film worth watching. In the end, what sticks most is the painful struggle of the director and the portrayed to make this project a success. Where ‘Drama Girl’ is never quite satisfactory, but it does make us curious about Kars’ next work. Hopefully another hybrid like that.