Charli XCX Shines in Surprisingly Moving Volcano Film

Charli XCX shines in a surprisingly moving volcano drama set in Warsaw. The film, Erupcja, is a low-budget, guerrilla-style picture directed by Pete Ohs.

Plot and setting

The story follows Bethany, played by Charli XCX, as she wanders Warsaw with rolling luggage. She chose the city over Paris for a trip with her boyfriend, Rob, played by Will Madden.

Past visits to Warsaw brought Bethany a fling with Nel, portrayed by Lena Góra. Each reunion coincides with a volcanic eruption, a running motif that resurfaces when Mount Etna becomes active.

Characters and dynamics

Rob plans to propose and carries an engagement ring. Bethany drifts, distracted by old attachments and poor choices.

Nel runs a small shop labeled Cute Little Flower Shop in the subtitles. Their history began when Bethany was stranded after an Iceland eruption during a school trip.

Creative team and production

Pete Ohs directs the picture, which was shot in 2024 during the peak of Brat summer. The production favors spontaneous, on-location shooting across Warsaw.

Writing credits are shared among the director, Charli XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden, and Jeremy O. Harris. Harris also appears as an ex-pat artist in a supporting role.

Style and tone

The film channels an early-Nineties indie travelogue vibe. It mixes casual hangout scenes with brief, solid-color visual interludes.

An omniscient narrator comments in Polish at times. The narrative remains open-ended and gently elliptical.

Themes and motifs

Volcanic eruptions act less as literal events than as metaphors. Characters treat them like hall passes that excuse poor behavior.

The focus lands on consequences rather than causes. The film suggests that youth and ego often produce collateral damage.

Performance highlights

Charli XCX gives an anti-star, low-key turn as Bethany. Her celebrity remains mostly absent onscreen, which sharpens the character study.

A standout scene finds Bethany reciting Lord Byron’s poem “Darkness” in Nel’s apartment. The moment underscores the film’s blend of ruin and romance.

Final assessment

Erupcja finds power in small moments and messy relationships. Filmogaz.com views the movie as proof Charli can translate pop stardom into nuanced acting.

The film may convince skeptics of her range. It also signals that her future screen choices deserve attention.