Basic Info & Context.
Erupcja (Polish for “Eruption”) is a 2025 Polish-U.S. co-production directed by Pete Ohs.
Runtime: 71 minutes.
Countries: United States / Poland. Languages: English and Polish.
Premiere: World premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the Centrepiece section on September 4, 2025.
Genre / Premise (short): Set in Warsaw, Poland, the story follows two women—Nel (Lena Góra) who works in a flower shop, and her childhood friend Bethany (Charli XCX) visiting with a new boyfriend. Each time they reunite it seems a volcano erupts somewhere.
Cast & “Means Character”
Cast
The principal cast (credited with major roles) includes:
- Charli XCX as Bethany.
- Lena Góra as Nel.
- Jeremy O. Harris as Claude.
- Will Madden as Rob (Bethany’s boyfriend).
- Agata Trzebuchowska as Ula.
In total, the credited cast with meaningful narrative impact is about 5-6 names (though there are likely more supporting roles).
Means Character.
The narrative’s emotional centre lies most clearly with Nel (Lena Góra). The story is told from her vantage point in many ways: she is rooted in Warsaw, running a flower shop, and the arrival of her friend Bethany triggers the emotional and narrative action. Although Bethany has star presence (and Charli XCX is a big name), the friendship between Bethany and Nel—and how Nel responds to the eruption of both volcano and emotion—is what carries the film’s weight. So Nel is the means character: her point of view, her unresolved feelings, her being confronted with the past and the eruption metaphor drive the internal journey.
Box Collection / Release and Commercial Context.
Erupcja is an independent, art-cinema / festival film rather than a mainstream blockbuster. Key commercial details:
- UK/Ireland theatrical rights were acquired by Vertigo Releasing for a spring 2026 release.
- As of current public information, there are no widely reported large box-office grosses. The film is in the festival circuit phase and distribution is just beginning.
- The distributor deals are being rolled out territory by territory (Poland, France, Spain, etc) by sales firm Magnify Films.
In short: the “box collection” in conventional blockbuster terms is not yet meaningful for this Erupcja film. Its success will instead be measured by festival acclaim, critical reviews, territory sales and streaming/licensing rather than hitting huge theatrical numbers.
Niche, Tone & Thematic Domain.
Genre / Niche
Erupcja occupies the niche of intimate romantic drama / queer friendship film with metaphorical elements (volcano eruption as symbol). It combines urban story (Warsaw) and subtle surreal imagery (volcano eruptions) in a minimalist 71-minute form. It is not commercial rom-com or mainstream drama, but rather art-house, experimental and introspective.
Tone & Themes
- The tone is restrained, atmospheric, reflective. As some reviews note, the emotional expressiveness is muted, the friendships and tension is quiet rather than melodramatic.
- Themes include:
- Friendship, memory and unresolved bonds. The film explores the charged relationship between women who share past history and conflicting desires.
- Identity and escapism. One woman is local (Nel), another comes in from abroad (Bethany) with a different life, a boyfriend — and their reunion unsettles structure.
- Eruption as metaphor of internal and external shift. The volcano motif suggests suppressed emotions, unpredictability, and perhaps desire or trauma breaking out.
- Place & alienation. Warsaw is more than backdrop: Nel’s rootedness contrasts with Bethany’s wandering, giving us a sense of belonging vs. outsider.
- Queer subtext. The two women’s relationship is central; although the film does not necessarily make it a “coming-out” story, the emotional tension and intimate attention give it queer resonance.
The film appeals to viewers who like minimalist dramas that imply rather than show everything, and who enjoy mood, texture and character over plot mechanics.
Deep Narrative & Analysis.
Plot Overview (spoiler-aware but not heavy spoilers)
Nel lives a modest life in Warsaw, working at a flower shop. Her childhood friend Bethany arrives with her boyfriend Rob. The reunion is emotionally charged: they have history, unspoken feelings, and the dynamic between them shifts. As they spend time together – parties, café visits, wandering the city – the metaphorical volcano keeps looming: each time Bethany and Nel connect, an eruption happens somewhere (the film suggests). Tension builds between Bethany’s itinerary, Rob’s expectations (perhaps a proposal), and Nel’s rootedness and hidden longing.
The film uses the eruption motif but rarely explains it literally; it is felt as a tremor in the characters’ relationship. Eventually the emotional stasis cracks and decisions must be faced: what happens after the eruption? Who remains, who moves on? The film ends not with a neat resolution but with a sense of shift, as the eruption signals change rather than closure.
Structural & Visual Style
The film is short — 71 minutes — and uses a pared-down structure. Director Pete Ohs (who also shot and edited) fashions a hybrid of observational sequences (city wandering, club night, cafés) and narration (provided by a voice-over) that gives the film a novelistic texture.
Warsaw is shot with care: the city is both everyday and cinematic. A Vogue article notes that Warsaw is “shown in a way that echoes the great Polish filmmakers of the 60s and 70s.” The film’s editing and sound design emphasise repetition (re-visiting locations, repeated motifs of drinks, glances, phone calls) and the sense that something is held in suspense.
What Works
- Strong performances & casting novelty: Charli XCX, primarily known as a pop singer, gives a significant acting turn (her first major film role) and Lena Góra anchors the film with emotional subtlety. Reviews often highlight Góra’s strength in the film.
- Atmospheric sense of place: Warsaw is not a generic European city but has texture, rhythms, architecture, light. The film uses it as a partner to the characters, not just a backdrop.
- Metaphor handled with lightness: The volcano motif is never heavy-handed; it hovers in the background, giving the emotional weight without turning into something literal or campy. This makes the film feel quietly insightful.
- Economy of runtime: At 71 minutes the film keeps things tight; there is less filler, more concentrated experience. For viewers who favour shorter films that don’t overstay their welcome, this is a plus.
What Might Challenge or Divide Viewers
- Narrative ambiguity & economy may frustrate: Some critics find the friendship under-developed, or feel the volcano metaphor there is promise but not full payoff. For example The Guardian described it as “a trial run” for Charli XCX and noted the emotional arcs weren’t fully explored.
- Short duration might leave one wanting more: 71 minutes is lean, and viewers used to full feature length may feel the film ends just as it builds momentum.
- Experimental tone not for mainstream strokes: The art-house mood, mixed languages (English/Polish) and minimalist dialogue mean this film is best for cine-philes or festival audiences rather than broad commercial crowd.
- Box-office/availability limitations: As an indie distribution film it may not be widely available theatrically and may require streaming or festival attendance — access may be limited in many territories for a while.
Final Verdict.
Erupcja is a worthy and intriguing film — one of 2025’s more quietly ambitious pieces. It may not be a narrative bang for everybody, but for those who like their films to breathe, to linger, to suggest rather than explain, it is rewarding. It marks an interesting evolution for Charli XCX (into acting) and for Pete Ohs (in his formal ambition).
If you enjoy films about friendship, memory, place, the way everyday city life can shift in a flash, see this. If you favour clear plot arcs, big theatrical spectacle or fully polished resolution, you might find the experience more interesting than emotionally satisfying.
In short: Erupcja is a little film with a strong atmosphere, a big metaphor and sense of place — worth keeping an eye out for, especially when it hits your territory. Consider this a festival gem waiting for a wider audience to discover
