A love triangle and a volcanic ‘Erupcja’ spotlights Poland

LOS ANGELES — After a volcanic eruption strands Bethany (Charlie XCX) and her soon-to-be fiancé, Rob (Will Madden) in Warsaw, Poland, Bethany reunites with her childhood friend, Nel (Lena Góra).

The pair embark on a European adventure that forces Bethany to confront the pains and pleasures of growing up.

“Erupcja” is an anti-romantic comedy about the pains and pleasures of being in love. Pete Ohs wrote, directed, edited, photographed and produced the film.

“This movie was made with a very unconventional process, and it’s going to feel like something they [audience] is not used to watching, but it’s going to feel good,” Ohs told Spectrum News.

The idea for “Erupcja” came to Ohs in 2024 when he met a man who got stuck in Warsaw, Poland, for a month in 2010 when a volcano in Iceland erupted and ash grounded flights across Europe.

For Góra, it’s an honor that in some way she can represent Poland in a way that audiences have not seen before in cinema.

“I was so happy he [Ohs] wanted to make a movie about a place in Poland and that landed on being Warsaw, Poland,” she told Spectrum News. “We are in a good ferment in Poland now. The fact that Rosalia shoots her music video unknowingly to us at the same time, same place … Warsaw is on fire.”    

“Erupcja” is told through an American point of view, Gora said. Adding that the perspective on Poland in the eyes of American filmmakers is something fresh, and it’s going to be important for both Poland and America.

“Erupcja” opens April 17 in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. The film also stars Jeremy O. Harris and Will Madden. 

Click the video above to watch the full interview with Ohs, Gora and Harris.