As her fans were enveloped in a frenzy over Brat last summer—an album that transcended into a cultural meme—and rejoiced at her quintuple triumph at the Brit Awards in March, Charli XCX stealthily embarked on a parallel journey, forging a career in film acting. With seven feature films already under her belt, and three set to debut at autumn's film festivals, she's making waves in a whole new realm. Among her small yet significant roles in ensemble casts, she'll be seen in One Hundred Nights of Hero, a Scheherazade-inspired gay romance starring Emma Corrin, premiering at the Venice Film Festival, and Sacrifice, an eco-themed satire headlined by Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Evans, set to unveil at the Toronto Film Festival. However, it's Erupcja, which just premiered in Toronto, that marks her most noteworthy venture. In this film, she assumes the leading role—a choice that speaks volumes. Far from mainstream or musical, Erupcja is a subtle, artistic film that underscores her earnest dedication to cinema.
In Erupcja, Charli portrays Bethany, vacationing in Warsaw with her boyfriend Rob (Will Madden) and harboring a covert plan. She yearns to reconnect with Nel (Lena Gora), an old friend and perhaps a former lover, before deciding on marriage with Rob. This enigmatic film keeps viewers on edge, with Charli's portrayal of the unassuming Bethany a stark contrast to her brash, confident persona on stage, in music videos, and on TikTok.
Musicians venturing into acting is hardly unprecedented. Lady Gaga made waves in A Star is Born in 2018 and garnered acclaim for her non-musical role in House of Gucci in 2021. A$AP Rocky shone in Spike Lee's recent film Highest 2 Lowest, holding his own in tense confrontations with Denzel Washington's character.
Yet, what distinguishes Charli's path is her intriguing selection of roles. All three of her festival films are independent and quirky, with Erupcja being the most unconventional, both on and off-screen. Directed by Pete Ohs, who employs a production process he terms "a table of bubbles," constructing films primarily from ideas and collaboration. Starting with an outline, he rehearses with actors contributing their lines and shoots over just two weeks, with a break after the first week to assess progress and plan the next phase. This rapid turnaround suits a pop star's packed schedule but is a creative risk not every musician or actor would undertake.
The film, concise and elliptical, runs for just one hour and ten minutes. Initially, it seems Charli's task is merely to embody an ordinary woman pondering her future, not Charli XCX. However, Erupcja is crafty, and as Bethany grapples with her relationship with Nel, subtle layers unfold. A voiceover reveals their bond forged during Bethany's frequent trips to Warsaw, yet the film never explicitly defines their relationship beyond a friendship Bethany abandoned. When they reunite and spend time together, scenes cut away or go dark whenever sexuality looms. The screenplay leaves much to our imagination, and Charli expertly conveys longing, inquiry, and heartbreak without uttering a word. Her dramatic performance stands out in a film more rewarding than its initial promise.
Charli has supporting roles lined up in other independent films awaiting distributors and release dates. I Want Your Sex, an erotic thriller starring Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman, directed by Gregg Araki, an icon of queer cinema, and The Gallerist, another thriller about an art-world conspiracy starring Jenna Ortega and Natalie Portman.
Closest to her heart in several ways is The Moment, based on an idea by Charli herself. She reportedly portrays a pop star preparing for a tour, with Alexander Skarsgård and Rosanna Arquette in supporting roles. Her production company, alongside A24—renowned for films like the Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once—plans to release it next year. While some of these films may appeal to a broader audience than Erupcja, this sly indie marks an auspicious inception of a new facet of Charli's career.
