Erupcja

Relationship dynamics can entail a lot of work – sometimes more than we’d like to deal with. As a consequence, they might make us feel trapped, despite whatever apparent comfort they otherwise might provide. And that, in turn, may prompt us to desperately search for an escape, one that offers little resistance but is riddled with impulsiveness, an abrogation of responsibility and unquestionable indifference toward the hurt it may cause. Indeed, it might be all too easy to disregard such fallout and proceed with an all-too-messy exit, no matter how devastating it can be. That’s a prevalent theme in the latest feature from writer-director Pete Ohs, the story of a cold, distant, anxious British tourist, Bethany (Charli XCX), on a supposedly romantic getaway to Warsaw, Poland with her boyfriend, Rob (Will Madden). Rob had originally wanted a storybook amorous adventure in Paris, but he willingly changed plans when Bethany suggested – surprisingly – that they experience the romance of Warsaw instead. (Warsaw?). The recommendation admittedly puzzled Rob, but he agreed as long as it would still fulfill his secret plan for making a marriage proposal. However, not long after they arrive in Poland, it becomes apparent why Bethany made her suggestion: it provides her with the means to meet up with an old flame, Nel (Lena Góra), whom she first met when they were teenagers and have had occasional flings together over the years. And, after only a few days, Bethany essentially abandons Rob to spend all her time with Nel, circumstances that she freely pursues and that leave Rob understandably puzzled. Bethany tries to justify her behavior by citing a timely eruption of Mt. Etna, an uncanny synchronicity typical of what happens whenever she and Nel get together. It seems that their reunions are always characterized by the impactful eruption of a volcano (usually somewhere nearby). Bethany and Nel unapologetically draw upon these decidedly less-than-subtle symbols of unleashed erotic...

"Bethany" (Charlie XcX) arrives in Warsaw, Poland with her nice but dim boyfriend "Rob" (Will Madden). We know that he is nervously awaiting a moment to propose and we also know that she knows that he thinking along those lines and is having cold feet. Anyway, we quickly discover why she chose Warsaw, Poland as the venue for the getaway as she goes to meet florist "Nel" (Lena Góra) whom she has known, on and off, for sixteen years. She, in turn, is vacillating over the nature of her own relationship with "Ula" (Agata Trzebuchowska) so with the scene now set we see poor old "Rob" treated fairly abysmally as the love of his life goes off to find herself. To be honest, just about none of this worked for me. Charlie XcX offers us nothing at all special as she portrays the character of "Bethany" - who has to be one of the most selfish I've encountered in a while, and the entirely unconvincing dynamic between her and the man she's supposed to have been living with for a year isn't helped by the constant reminders that Warsaw is, indeed, in Poland. There isn't even the vaguest spark of chemistry between this couple as either characters or actors. Likewise, though Góra at least tries to put some effort into her characterisation, there isn't much electricity going on there either as this non-story rumbled along to a conclusion that I couldn't have cared less about. The title alludes to "Bethany" believing that her fate has something to do with erupting volcanoes - Etna currently spewing out it's ash as they arrive, but even that theme is underdeveloped and the whole thing left me cold.

“It’s always a dream with you. Until the next eruption. ♥️ — B

Natural disasters kill people, destroy civilizations, and present a windfall for life to return to the land. Natural disasters and infidelity coincide in that way. In Peter Oh’s 2025 anti-romantic film, “Erupcja,” viewers witness how self-centeredness is a beautiful reflection in the pool of water that leads to misguided coincidences and irreversible consequences in the age of technology.

The film’s opening image of Mount Etna’s eruption washed in carmine red appears on screen in time with the wistful harmonies of a Polish pop song. Shortly afterwards, omniscient views of the sidewalks of Warsaw interject in warm shades, reminiscent of a floral arrangement. By way of montage, Warsaw is introduced as a quiet, observant character who refrains from criticizing its players. This intention is further realized when the narrator voiced by Jacek Zubiel describes the characters’ dreams and brief backstories. The characterizations are presented from this all-knowing position, in spite of the characters filtering the audience through their breezy recountings.

After grounding the audience in the cityscape, the rumbling of a rolling suitcase on the stone sidewalk pre-laps. Its sonic introduction loosely alludes to the low growls of a volcano. This suitcase belongs to Bethany (Charli XCX). Bethany is the charming art history graduate with the dutiful and nice boyfriend, Rob (Will Madden). Early on, Rob exclaims that his original plans were to travel to the most romantic capital in the world with his soon-to-be fiancée. To his dismay, Bethany rebuts. “In Paris, there’s just so much expectation to be romantic that it just isn’t romantic anymore. Like, everyone’s seen the Eiffel Tower, but not everyone’s sat on that bench…”

This remark reflects the relationship to space and happenstance that Ohs’ process captures. His intuitive approach to filmmaking doesn’t simply throw the shot list and script to the wi...