April 22, 2026
FILM: ERUPCJA
DIRECTED BY: PETE OHS
STARRING: CHARLI XCX, LENA GORA, WILL MADDEN
RATING: 2 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Some people might be drawn to this film because it stars British pop singer and actress Charli XCX. Since I know little about her career that wasn’t it for me. The film, from director Pete Ohs, was shot in Warsaw, Poland. My grandparents were from the country and I still have relatives who live there that I have had the great pleasure of spending time with during my own trips to Poland in 2001 and 2018. So, my interest in seeing the film was due to the setting and some of the positive buzz I’d heard about it. I was ultimately underwhelmed though. Warsaw is well-captured but Charli XCX plays a pretty unlikeable, self-centered character who doesn’t seem to mind who she hurts.
The story begins as her character, Bethany, and boyfriend Rob arrive for a brief trip to the city. They’re from London and Bethany convinced Rob to visit there as she had been there four times in the past. Rob has plans to propose to Bethany but Bethany seems to have ulterior motives. She’d previously meant Nel (Lena Gora), a florist, several years earlier. There’s an obvious attraction there that doesn’t seem to exist between Bethany and Rob. When around Rob, Bethany seems lonely, forlorn, and disengaged. When with Nel everything changes, including the feel of the film itself. The music becomes more techno and camera shots are more dynamic.
Simultaneously, Mount Etna has erupted in Italy creating ash in the air which halts airline travel and keeps Bethany and Rob in town a bit longer than planned. This, of course, is the literal “eruption” suggested by the film’s title. In fact, it becomes a larger metaphor for the natural events which keep people from their normal and routine lives. The disruptions cause people to pause and perhaps reconsider where they are at during the moment. Bethany is clearly aware of this and welcomes it.
What is bothersome about the narrative is how little insight we are given into who Bethany is. We are not drawn to her as some might be to the actress who plays her. Rob, on the other hand, is sensitively played by Will Madden and comes across as a great all around guy. Perhaps that’s the issue for Bethany. He’s too boring. However, we care for him and, to a much lesser extent Nel, who is attracted to Bethany and even forsakes her own relationship with a woman named Ula to spend time with Bethany. Why they are so interested in her is a mystery to me.
This is a young person’s Warsaw, which is actually refreshing to see. Most Americans have little connection to the city which I’ve seen develop into one that is rich in culture, entertainment, and dining options. But rather than spend time on all of the tourist attractions in the city, Ohs takes us into the meat of Warsaw where young people flourish: the cafes, subways, apartments, and art scenes. There is a great youthful energy that is portrayed, even if the film itself is rather slow and mostly quiet.
The film bears some resemblance to the style one might see in the French New Wave films of the 1950s and 60s. The streets are raw and not every place is picture perfect. Ohs reportedly shot the film guerilla style with hidden cameras. In fact, much of the script was written on the spot during production. This isn’t a meticulously planned out production but one that makes viewers feel like they are moving around the city with the characters. Occasionally Ohs plays with color and camera angles which are high above the streets but the general direction isn’t overly flashy.
So, why didn’t I like the film more than I did? I think I wanted more from the script and certainly more from Charli XCX as Bethany. It’s not that she did a poor job with her performance but she doesn’t provide much depth for us to really care about her. In the end, the film also feels a bit flat and, well, a little boring. Warsaw is a city worth exploring though. I recommend going there more than seeing this film.
Erupcja opens in limited release this week, including the Music Box Theater in Chicago.
FILM: ERUPCJA
DIRECTED BY: PETE OHS
STARRING: CHARLI XCX, LENA GORA, WILL MADDEN
RATING: 2 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Some people might be drawn to this film because it stars British pop singer and actress Charli XCX. Since I know little about her career that wasn’t it for me. The film, from director Pete Ohs, was shot in Warsaw, Poland. My grandparents were from the country and I still have relatives who live there that I have had the great pleasure of spending time with during my own trips to Poland in 2001 and 2018. So, my interest in seeing the film was due to the setting and some of the positive buzz I’d heard about it. I was ultimately underwhelmed though. Warsaw is well-captured but Charli XCX plays a pretty unlikeable, self-centered character who doesn’t seem to mind who she hurts.
The story begins as her character, Bethany, and boyfriend Rob arrive for a brief trip to the city. They’re from London and Bethany convinced Rob to visit there as she had been there four times in the past. Rob has plans to propose to Bethany but Bethany seems to have ulterior motives. She’d previously meant Nel (Lena Gora), a florist, several years earlier. There’s an obvious attraction there that doesn’t seem to exist between Bethany and Rob. When around Rob, Bethany seems lonely, forlorn, and disengaged. When with Nel everything changes, including the feel of the film itself. The music becomes more techno and camera shots are more dynamic.
Simultaneously, Mount Etna has erupted in Italy creating ash in the air which halts airline travel and keeps Bethany and Rob in town a bit longer than planned. This, of course, is the literal “eruption” suggested by the film’s title. In fact, it becomes a larger metaphor for the natural events which keep people from their normal and routine lives. The disruptions cause people to pause and perhaps reconsider where they are at during the moment. Bethany is clearly aware of this and welcomes it.
What is bothersome about the narrative is how little insight we are given into who Bethany is. We are not drawn to her as some might be to the actress who plays her. Rob, on the other hand, is sensitively played by Will Madden and comes across as a great all around guy. Perhaps that’s the issue for Bethany. He’s too boring. However, we care for him and, to a much lesser extent Nel, who is attracted to Bethany and even forsakes her own relationship with a woman named Ula to spend time with Bethany. Why they are so interested in her is a mystery to me.
This is a young person’s Warsaw, which is actually refreshing to see. Most Americans have little connection to the city which I’ve seen develop into one that is rich in culture, entertainment, and dining options. But rather than spend time on all of the tourist attractions in the city, Ohs takes us into the meat of Warsaw where young people flourish: the cafes, subways, apartments, and art scenes. There is a great youthful energy that is portrayed, even if the film itself is rather slow and mostly quiet.
The film bears some resemblance to the style one might see in the French New Wave films of the 1950s and 60s. The streets are raw and not every place is picture perfect. Ohs reportedly shot the film guerilla style with hidden cameras. In fact, much of the script was written on the spot during production. This isn’t a meticulously planned out production but one that makes viewers feel like they are moving around the city with the characters. Occasionally Ohs plays with color and camera angles which are high above the streets but the general direction isn’t overly flashy.
So, why didn’t I like the film more than I did? I think I wanted more from the script and certainly more from Charli XCX as Bethany. It’s not that she did a poor job with her performance but she doesn’t provide much depth for us to really care about her. In the end, the film also feels a bit flat and, well, a little boring. Warsaw is a city worth exploring though. I recommend going there more than seeing this film.
Erupcja opens in limited release this week, including the Music Box Theater in Chicago.