(Spoilers)
I went to see the moment with Charlie XCX. It follows the release of her “Brat” album and the preparations for the concert tour. The movie focuses on her rebellious electronic night club image. Many of her props, as mentioned in the film, allude to drugs or alcohol. Common things you find in this kind of scene. The film features her marketing team, manager, concert set designers, and close friends. The tour and Charlie are seen under lots of pressure due to deadlines like set decisions and merchandise like the brat credit card accompanying the album release.
She faces decisions of loyalty to her friends slash coworkers when lucidly deciding to use the insightful Johnnanes instead of Celeste for her overall creative design. Celeste is her close friend and has been behind Charlie’s image for her previous concerts. Changing her lead designer and opening herself to Johnnanes’ new ideas and logic is one her first steps to recovering from what she is struggling with underneath, emotional release and honesty amongst her relationships. This idea is seen in her spa appointment where the practitioner senses stress that she is closing up which will only make things worse for her in the future. She argues with assistants in her hotel room and cuts herself in a fit of rage detailing the pent up anger and stress of creating what she wants for the tour.
These stresses come from her tour life and the gritty night club scene she chooses to portray which she keeps her head above when in the bathroom at a party. During a rehearsal it is revealed that the bank that their tour credit card was releasing through has become bankrupt further tarnishing her seemingly fleeting image. In the end she pushes through to the climactic scene where she leaves her team behind to only be found in a deep sleep, but resolved and ready for the show to go on. In a voicemail to her former lead designer, Celeste, she opens up about her journey of self acceptance, sacrifice and what she won’t give up on in order for her to continue doing what she loves.
First, the cinematography is very pulsating and electronic filled with sharp vibrant color and typography sequences. Heavy electronic dance tempos mixed with high stress moments and transitions further emeultae her night club aesthetic.
The shots are very documentary like giving a real look at what goes into producing a Charlie XCX concert. Long shots and close ups of the British country side open up the powerful characters in hard decision-making moments. Close-ups and over the shoulder shots anchor real moments of confusion and also assurance like in marketing meetings with Jamie or stage prep with Lloyd. Overall, the viewer will really enjoy the pumping cinematography and music along with learning the creative challenges of putting together a large cohesive project.
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