By Fiorela Gonzales

Erupcja, the Polish film by director Pete Ohs, takes the meaning of erupcja – a sudden eruption – both literally and figuratively in this quick party girl melodrama that centers itself around two main characters and their desires to blow off all responsibilities.

Erupcja stars Charli XCX as Bethany, a British woman on vacation in Warsaw, Poland with her boyfriend, Rob (Will Madden). While in Warsaw, a volcano erupts cancelling all flights and leaving them to extend their trip. Rob is planning on proposing to Bethany, and though she is aware of it, she has different plans. Bethany meets up with an old friend, Nel (Lena Góra), who owns a flower shop and is currently in an off and on relationship with Ula (Agata Trzebuchowska). Bethany and Nel’s friendship has been marked by destruction since their first meeting 16 years ago when Bethany was visiting Warsaw on a school trip and a volcano erupted and stranded her there for a month. Ever since then, every time they’ve gotten together a volcano has coincidentally erupted somewhere in the world. The eruption of this current volcano leads Bethany to ditch her boyfriend and reunite with Nel as they spend their nights clubbing, partying, and traipsing across Poland with zero regard to those around them.

It’s unclear for a while whether Bethany and Nel are lovers or simply friends. Nel’s younger sister has opinions on Bethany that are not very favorable, leading you to believe they could have had a tumultuous relationship. It is eventually revealed that they are just friends, but the toxic relationship still permeates through. They use the excuse of the eruptions of the volcanoes to do what they want and blow off their responsibilities. They share the story of their volcanic serendipity to a friend, Claude (Jeremy O. Harris), and explain that it’s their own personal joke, but in turn he asks what the joke is. He follows with “volcanoes hurt people” a comment that stumps Bethany and Nel as they clearly had never thought about the outside repercussions. Much like a volcano that harms people in its wake, Bethany and Nel’s disregard for anyone’s feelings but their own pleasure leaves those in their path burned and hurt.

As Rob searches for both Bethany and answers for her sudden disappearance and attitude, he ends up meeting Nel who explains to him their behavior has nothing to do with him but with the spontaneity they’re given when volcanoes erupt. Rob listens to her as Nel starts regretting how she treated Ula, and Rob states that he looked up how often volcanoes erupt and it’s about once a week throughout the world. It’s not really that serendipitous, in fact, it’s all too common. Much like a regular life with its jobs, relationships, and responsibilities – you can’t just blow it off because a volcano blows.

The film explores the quarter life crisis that occurs both in relationships and job security. Bethany is in a secure relationship with a man she lives with who is nice, loves her, and wants to marry her. Nel has a secure job at a flower shop that she owns and maintains and a relationship she seems to take for granted. They both use the excuse of volcanoes suddenly erupting to unleash their own baggage and do what they want. If the world can be so unreliable as to suddenly explode – why should they be beholden to laws and rules?

Erupcja is quick, fun, with a very European edit to it that keeps you intrigued throughout. You’re never too sure what’s happening out right – and there are some moments that could’ve used expanding and the film would’ve benefited with a little addition to the runtime. Charli XCX is good in her role as party girl trying to devoid herself of responsibilities, but she is the least interesting character in the film. Nel and the other supporting characters bring much more to the film than Charli XCX, and I do wonder how much the film would be elevated had a different actress played the role of Bethany. Though, regardless, it’s amazing that Charli XCX is taking roles like these and bringing exposure to small European indie films so her role in the film does have to be admired.

Erupcia is short, but the story is as explosive as the volcano in the film. It explores the feelings of being trapped in a mundane life and using any excuse necessary to let go of those responsibilities. The quarter life crisis is all too real, and Charli XCX is leading millennials through it.

3 ½ stars.