Erupcja: Volcanic Intensity, Yearning, and Charli XCX’s Cinematic Volatility

Filmed during the "brat summer" of 2024, the microbudget indie Erupcja stars Charli XCX as Bethany, a young woman who reconnects with an old flame while on holiday with her soon-to-be fiancé. This independent film, helmed by director Pete Ohs, has generated significant buzz not only for its unconventional production methods but also for its unexpected casting of one of the world’s leading pop artists. The project, born from a desire for raw, authentic storytelling, navigated unforeseen logistical challenges, ultimately reshaping its narrative in real-time and highlighting the unpredictable nature of creative collaboration.

The Genesis of a Spontaneous Production

The journey of Erupcja began with a serendipitous encounter in a New York bar in May 2024, just a month before Charli XCX’s highly anticipated album, Brat, was released. Director Pete Ohs was introduced to the artist by mutual friend Jeremy O. Harris. Intrigued by Ohs’s signature improvisational filmmaking approach, Charli XCX agreed to participate in Erupcja, a project that, at that point, lacked a fully developed script. The only thematic directive provided was an exploration of female friendship intertwined with the symbolism of volcanoes. This willingness to commit to a film without a concrete narrative framework underscores a shared artistic inclination towards spontaneity and a trust in the emergent power of creative interaction.

Ohs, known for his prolific output of five films in five years, operates on a methodology that prioritizes on-the-spot scene construction. His process typically involves crafting scenes with actors in the days, or even hours, leading up to their filming. For Erupcja, this improvisational ethos was put to an extreme test. Prior to principal photography, only the initial arc of the story was sketched out. The latter half was to be developed concurrently with the filming of the first, allowing the narrative to organically evolve based on the actors’ contributions and the unfolding creative dynamics. This collaborative model is reflected in the film’s screenplay credits, which list Ohs alongside its four principal actors: Charli XCX, Lena Góra, Will Madden, and Jeremy O. Harris.

Navigating Unforeseen Circumstances: The "Brat Summer" Impact

The production timeline for Erupcja was significantly impacted by Charli XCX’s demanding schedule, particularly her involvement in the burgeoning "brat summer" cultural phenomenon. Merely four days before shooting was slated to commence in Warsaw, Ohs learned that his lead actress would need to depart early to fulfill commitments for a Converse commercial in London. This news presented a critical challenge, as Erupcja was intended to be filmed chronologically. The narrative, originally conceived with a linear progression, had to be radically re-envisioned on the fly.

This unexpected turn of events, however, was met by Ohs not as a setback, but as an opportunity to further embrace his improvisational philosophy. "It felt bad to be losing our actress early to a Converse ad," Ohs explained during a Zoom interview from New York. "But it was also an opportunity to do something different with the narrative." The singer’s participation, despite the truncated schedule, guarantees Erupcja a viewership far exceeding that of Ohs’s previous five films combined, a testament to her global appeal and the burgeoning cultural relevance of the "brat" aesthetic.

Thematic Resonance: Volcanoes, "Brat" Culture, and Female Dynamics

The thematic underpinnings of Erupcja draw a compelling parallel between the symbolic power of volcanic eruptions and the cultural eruption of "brat summer." Ohs muses on this connection, suggesting that the film, perhaps subconsciously, taps into the broader conversation surrounding this cultural moment. "The ‘brat’ phenomenon was also a volcanic eruption," he stated. "Maybe subconsciously, we made a film that’s also part of that conversation. Is being ‘brat’ cool? Does being ‘brat’ hurt other people? Should ‘brats’ apologize sometimes? Maybe!" he laughed. This sentiment reflects a director who thrives on the uncalculated, emphasizing the power of artists to be present and responsive to their environment, creating art that resonates with contemporary cultural currents.

In Erupcja, Charli XCX portrays Bethany, a character intended as a more grounded counterpoint to her established pop star persona, a trope also explored in Ohs’s mockumentary The Moment. Set against the backdrop of Warsaw, Bethany arrives with her boyfriend, Rob (played by Will Madden, who bears a striking resemblance to Charli XCX’s real-life husband, George Daniel), for what is intended to be a romantic holiday. While Rob harbors secret plans to propose, Bethany is more inclined to reconnect with an old friend, Nel (portrayed by Lena Góra), a local grappling with her own relationship complexities.

The narrative then introduces a peculiar superstition shared by Bethany and Nel: their reunions are invariably accompanied by the eruption of a nearby volcano. This element imbues the film with a sense of mystical interconnectedness, suggesting that personal emotional upheavals can manifest in natural phenomena. The chemistry between Bethany and Nel quickly emerges as a central driving force of the film, eclipsing the dynamic between Bethany and Rob. Erupcja thus becomes a study in fraught female relationships, exploring themes of yearning, reconnection, and the unspoken forces that bind individuals.

A Unique Creative Process: Improvisation and iPhone Screenplays

The production of Erupcja is as remarkable as its casting. Ohs, who also served as the cinematographer, developed the screenplay using the Notes app on his iPhone. Scenes were drafted and shared with the cast through a group chat, with many ideas coalescing during shared meals. This approach blurs the lines between scripted narrative and spontaneous performance. For instance, a scene depicting Bethany and Rob eating leftover pizza at a restaurant was a direct reflection of what Charli XCX and Will Madden were consuming before the cameras began rolling, demonstrating the seamless integration of real-life experiences into the film’s fabric.

"I make movies by removing pressure," Ohs explained. "Writing on the Notes app means never having to face a big, blank, white page. It updates collaboratively. If the actors want to make changes, they can." This method fosters a sense of fluidity and shared ownership over the creative process. The intimacy of the iPhone screen, for Ohs, facilitates a focused engagement with the scene at hand, allowing for an intuitive and organic development of dialogue and action.

This decentralized and collaborative writing process draws parallels to the early days of the mumblecore movement, characterized by its focus on friends collaborating on low-budget films. However, Ohs identifies his aesthetic and philosophical influences as being more closely aligned with European arthouse cinema, citing directors like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Michelangelo Antonioni, as well as Italian neorealism. The film also features a dryly witty, third-person narrator, reminiscent of Jean-Luc Godard’s early works, adding a layer of detached observation to the unfolding personal dramas.

Influences and Future Directions

While Ohs acknowledges the spirit of collaborative filmmaking found in mumblecore, he asserts a stronger stylistic affinity for the French New Wave. His previous experience with traditional filmmaking, exemplified by his 2017 film Everything Beautiful Is Far Away, which was produced with a $200,000 budget but garnered limited attention, has solidified his commitment to his current, more improvisational method. This approach, he posits, begins not with a character or a plot, but with a geographical location.

The improvisational nature of Erupcja‘s creation invites comparisons to the early works of Wim Wenders, particularly films like Paris, Texas and Alice in the Cities. Wenders also employed a location-centric approach, allowing the narrative to unfold organically as he traversed different places. "The way you make a movie will directly inform how that movie feels," Ohs stated. "Marvel movies feel the way they do because of the process they use. To make a movie where you’re jumping off a cliff into the unknown, and you don’t know where the story is going to go – that’s similar to how life is lived. That’s why Wim Wenders’ films feel the way they do."

This philosophy emphasizes the profound impact of the creative process on the final output. For Ohs, embracing uncertainty in filmmaking mirrors the unpredictable nature of life itself. While acknowledging that not all films can or should be made in this manner, he believes this method yields a "really specific, special feeling."

Looking ahead, Ohs plans to continue exploring this highly personalized filmmaking technique. He intends to shoot two more films within the next year, each commencing in a distinct geographical location and utilizing the same improvised methods, albeit on a potentially larger scale. The challenge, he notes, lies in adapting his approach to a broader framework: "Does the method hold or crumble?" he muses, anticipating the evolution of his artistic practice.

The film also features a notable performance from Agata Trzebuchowska as Ula, the girlfriend of Nel. This marks Trzebuchowska’s first significant acting role since her acclaimed performance in the 2013 film Ida, adding another layer of artistic depth to the ensemble. Ultimately, Erupcja offers viewers a glimpse into Charli XCX navigating what can be interpreted as an existential breakdown amidst the urban landscape of Warsaw, with a tearful monologue serving as a potent demonstration of the singer’s acting capabilities.

Erupcja is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on June 5th, promising an unconventional cinematic experience that blends the raw energy of pop culture with the introspective depths of independent filmmaking.