Kristoffer Borgli, the 40-year-old Norwegian director of the upcoming A24 film The Drama starring Zendaya, detailed a past age-gap romance with a teenage girl in a 2012 essay that has recently resurfaced online.

Details from the 2012 Essay

Borgli wrote the essay at age 27, reflecting on a relationship with a girl 10 years younger. Although the age of consent in Norway stands at 16, he noted that close friends viewed the romance as outside acceptable bounds, confirming it as a significant age difference.

He described meeting “a girl ten years younger than me whom I liked very much – a girl who wasn’t old enough to vote – and I had to find something that could recalibrate my moral compass.”

The director recalled waking up beside her: “Beside me lay a blonde girl, a high school student enjoying the sporadic holidays in May.” He admitted, “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.”

They maintained contact via Facebook and text messages afterward. Borgli described the experience as “the best and most exotic summer I’ve ever had.”

Influence of Woody Allen’s Manhattan

Prior to this relationship, Borgli had been in another age-gap dynamic where he was the younger partner. He drew inspiration from Woody Allen’s 1979 film Manhattan, where a 42-year-old character dates a 17-year-old, portrayed positively and romantically.

Borgli questioned, “Then why shouldn’t my relationship – with a considerably smaller age difference – in 2012 be ‘within bounds?’ I chose to listen to Woody over my friends.”

Online Reactions and Film Context

The essay gained renewed attention on Reddit this week, prompting varied responses. Some users expressed disappointment, with comments like “Ooooof that’s disappointing” and “yikes i was not aware of this.”

Borgli’s latest project, The Drama, releases in theaters on April 3. The film features Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as an engaged couple facing an unexpected twist during their wedding week, described on IMDb as a scenario that sends events “off the rails.”

Early screenings have sparked debate, with some calling the plot twist “disturbing” and noting the lack of a trigger warning, though others praise the film’s bold approach.

The cast also includes Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoe Winters. Borgli previously directed Dream Scenario (2023) starring Nicolas Cage. Zendaya and Pattinson reunite here after upcoming projects like Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey.