Romantic Comedy 'Love It or Not' Starring Robert Pattinson and Zendaya Released in Ukraine

On April 1, the romantic comedy 'Love It or Not' made its debut in Ukrainian cinemas, featuring renowned actors Robert Pattinson and Zendaya, directed by Kristoffer Borgli. The film has generated significant buzz among viewers well ahead of its release, prompting NV to attend an international press conference where the cast and director shared insights about the movie.

'Love It or Not' tells the story of Emma Harwood, an American bookstore employee, and Charlie Thompson, a British director of a fictional Cambridge Art Museum. Their shared passion for books and art forms the foundation of their budding romance.

The couple decides to tie the knot, but just a week before their wedding, they embark on a double date with friends. During this evening, the group of friends pressures Emma to confess her worst wrongdoing, a revelation that shocks everyone, including Charlie, leading to a breakdown in their relationship.

The film 'Love It or Not' drew attention even before its release. The production company A24 created a fictional world for the characters Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson that spilled into reality. Notably, an engagement announcement for Harwood and Thompson appeared in the print version of The Boston Globe, with their wedding date coinciding with the international premiere of the film. This unique marketing strategy is one that no other film company has previously employed.

Director Kristoffer Borgli is a Norwegian filmmaker and screenwriter known for his unconventional approach, blending satire, themes of identity, and social ambition. In his dark comedy 'I’m Not Me' (2022), he explored contemporary phenomena of self-promotion, attention-seeking, and narcissism, intertwining irony with profound psychological depth.

Borgli's next project marked his debut in English-language cinema with 'Dream Script'—an American fantasy dark comedy for A24 that he both wrote and directed. This film received positive reviews from critics, and lead actor Nicolas Cage was nominated for a Golden Globe award.

'Love It or Not' reflects Borgli's observations on cultural differences he faced as a Norwegian in the United States. This is why Robert Pattinson's character, Charlie, is a Brit who moves to America. 'The film explores love and identity, as well as the cultural differences I, as a non-American who found a new life here, had to confront,' the director explained.

Zendaya, one of the film's stars, revealed that before filming began, Borgli organized a film club for the actors. Each film they watched served as a reference to specific scenes in 'Love It or Not.' During their preparation, they viewed 'Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice' by Paul Mazursky, 'The Piano Teacher' by Michael Haneke, and 'Melancholia' by Lars von Trier. 'These three films differ greatly in tone, but they all reflect certain aspects of our film,' Borgli clarified.

Prior to the film's release, many cinephiles speculated that 'Love It or Not' contained a spoiler for Borgli's next project—during her introduction to Charlie, Emma reads a fictional book titled 'The Damage' by Harper Ellison. However, the director explained that this is merely a title that frequently appears in his works. 'In my Norwegian feature film 'I’m Not Me,' there is an exhibition called 'The Damage.' It's an inside joke,' he added.

The film raises several ethical questions, particularly concerning relationships and accepting one's partner. Robert Pattinson noted that what intrigued him most about 'Love It or Not' is its portrayal of morality as highly subjective and somewhat dependent on one's environment. 'Your personal moral values differ from those of your surroundings. I think few people want to admit this, but it’s true,' he clarified.

Shooting the scene where Zendaya's character confesses her worst wrongdoing took approximately four days, with the script containing around 20 pages of dialogue. At this moment, the film's genre begins to shift from romantic comedy to drama.

Zendaya also shared that transforming into Emma allowed her to learn more about herself and discover new emotions. 'Emma possesses a fragility that I enjoyed uncovering. There’s a little girl in her who desperately seeks to be loved and accepted. She tries to balance this desire with the fact that she is now an adult woman with her own life and is getting married,' the actress explained.

'Love It or Not' is the first of three planned collaborations between Robert Pattinson and Zendaya set for 2026. In July, audiences can look forward to the premiere of Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey,' followed by the third installment of Denis Villeneuve's 'Dune' in December. However, it is in 'Love It or Not' that both actors take on leading roles. 'I met Rob as Rob, then I 'met' Charlie, and then I encountered his character in 'Dune.' They are completely different... I love watching how he fully transforms into a new creation,' the actress concluded about her collaboration with Pattinson on set.

Don't miss the chance to see 'Love It or Not' in theaters starting April 1.