Erupcja review: Intriguing drama provides a tantalising taste of Charli xcx’s acting talents

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Lately, I’ve been really impressed with Charli XCX’s move into acting. You might have already spotted her in Julia Jackman’s wonderfully weird film, 100 Nights of Hero. She’s been playfully playing herself in a mockumentary called The Moment, and even had two indie films, The Gallerist and I Want Your Sex, debut at Sundance in 2026. But her new film, Erupcja by Pete Ohs, is where she really shines. It’s a low-key, 71-minute Gen Z romance, and honestly, it gives you a real sense of how talented she is as an actress – it’s a promising glimpse of things to come!

The film, named after the Polish word for ‘eruption,’ opens with Bethany (Charli xcx) and her boyfriend, Rob (Will Madden), arriving in Warsaw for a short vacation. Rob is secretly hoping to propose during the trip. As soon as they settle into their Airbnb, Bethany goes out to explore the city, a place that clearly holds significant memories for her.

It wasn’t long before Bethany found herself at the flower shop of Nel (Lena Góra), a friend she’d first met on a school trip years ago. They’d run into each other a few times since, usually at parties, and each meeting seemed to coincide with an eruption from Mount Etna. Predictably, Etna erupted again, causing Bethany’s flight to be cancelled and unexpectedly keeping her in Warsaw.

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The story relies on a series of convenient coincidences, starting with Rob and Bethany unexpectedly meeting a talkative American named Claude at a restaurant. Claude happens to be hosting a party that very night and invites them, and he also knows Nel. Rob is hesitant to go because he made a costly dinner reservation. However, Bethany is independent and, while Rob briefly steps outside at the party, she leaves with Nel for a night of partying.

I was really impressed with how much Ohs did on Erupcja – they basically handled everything, directing, filming, editing, and even co-writing the script with Góra, Harris, Madden, and xcx! It’s a very spontaneous film, and honestly, it reminded me of those chatty, independent American movies from the 90s. There’s a bit of a ‘stranger in a European city’ vibe, similar to Before Sunrise. But where that movie was about a blossoming connection, this one’s about pulling away – we see Bethany realizing she and Rob just aren’t a good fit anymore.

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Honestly, I didn’t quite get a clear picture of what happened between Nel and Bethany way back when. Was there something romantic going on? It was left pretty ambiguous, and it felt like maybe Bethany herself didn’t fully understand it either. Charli XCX absolutely shines as the self-absorbed, independent type – a really believable twenty-something who knows she’s outgrown her relationship with Rob. Initially, Madden’s performance felt a little stiff, but he really grew on me. By the end, I realized the film was just as much about his journey of figuring things out as it was about Bethany’s flightiness.

I was really struck by this film, narrated by Jacek Zubiel, whose voice gives it this almost fairytale-like feel. Honestly, it’s much more than just “the Polish one with Charli in it” – it’s a little gem that deserves wider recognition. While the story meanders a bit and not all the supporting actors hit the mark, the characters themselves feel incredibly genuine. It creates this fascinating world where people still appreciate poetry, aren’t afraid to be introspective, and hang out in the coolest parts of Warsaw – which, by the way, the director Ohs captures beautifully. Ultimately, it’s a really honest and thought-provoking look at relationships in the 21st century.

Erupcja is now showing in UK cinemas.

Authors

James Mottram

James Mottram is a London-based film critic, journalist, and author.

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2026-06-05 14:07