Erupcja

by Mike McGranaghan

It’s only April and 2026 has been a hot year for singer Charli XCX on the big screen. She starred in her own A24 movie, The Moment, had a supporting role in Faces of Death, and now toplines a genuine arthouse flick, Erupcja. The title is a Polish word meaning “eruption.” The moniker is apt, given that volcanoes play a significant role in this cool, experimental film.

Charli plays Bethany, a woman visiting Warsaw with her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden). He’s planning to propose and wanted to vacation in France. She talked him into Poland because of Nel (Lena Góra), a lover she met on a previous visit and has sporadically returned to see. Coincidentally – or not – a volcano somewhere in the world erupts whenever Bethany and Nel get together. Now in the same city again, Italy’s Mount Etna blows, a seeming sign that they need to explore their relationship. Poor Rob, meanwhile, is stuck wondering why his would-be fiancée has abruptly ghosted him on their trip.

Symbolism in Erupcja isn’t exactly subtle. Volcanoes are clearly a metaphor for the passion that exists between the women. Director Pete Ohs, who co-wrote the screenplay with his stars, takes care to show how Bethany comes alive around Nel in a way she doesn’t with Rob. Not much happens in terms of formal plot, but when you watch the character interactions, a lot is being said about the power attraction can have. Like a volcano, it can’t be contained forever.

Ohs really captures the ambiance of Warsaw. You don’t think of it as an inherently romantic place, yet that’s part of why setting it there works. The city feels vibrant, not with excitement (like Paris) but with life itself, good and bad. Choosing an unlikely setting underlines the reckless nature of the central couple’s fling. This is their emotional playground. Charli XCX and Lena Góra cook up sizzling chemistry, effectively convincing us that the women are like magnets, irresistibly drawn together.

Erupcja is only 71 minutes long, meaning it isn’t the deepest movie you’ll ever see. It nevertheless entertains because of the strength of the performances and the atmosphere of Warsaw. Ohs also has appealing influences. The loose storytelling vibe was obviously inspired by the films of the French New Wave. That includes using voiceover narration similar to that in Jean-Luc Godard’s Band of Outsiders.

All in all, the picture is a breath of fresh air in our franchise-heavy cinematic era.