"From the very first scene of , Charli XCX is battling the inevitability of being cringe. It's just past the peak of 2024's "Brat Summer," and Charli's being guided through a script for a TikTok she's supposed to film by her social assistant Lloyd (Isaac Powell). She can't be bothered, and neither can Lloyd - but alas, a brand deal is a brand deal, and the product shouldn't care if its seller is "being cringe" or not."
"Charli's new film, helmed by music video director Aidan Zamiri, is all about these moments of compromise in the world of a pop star experiencing a breakthrough. It's about the tension between the glory of success and the immense pressure she feels to replicate it, the human element of being an artist willingly exchanged for commercial gain and securing a wider demographic of consumers."
"The Moment follows Charli as she attempts to keep the momentum of going at the behest of her record label, initially trusting creative director Celeste (Hailey Benton Gates) to produce her forthcoming headlining tour. But Amazon Music is paying for a concert film and documentary about the tour, and her label has hired the very pretentious, seemingly tasteless director Johannes Godwin (Alexander Skarsgård) to oversee it."
Charli XCX grapples with the inevitability of seeming "cringe" while being guided through scripted promotional content and brand obligations. The narrative highlights compromises demanded by rapid success and the pressure to replicate a breakthrough while appealing to wider demographics. Aidan Zamiri directs a film that sits between mockumentary and music documentary, showing creative friction as label priorities intersect with artistic intent. The Moment follows Charli as her team and corporate backers shape a headlining tour film, hiring a pretentious director whose vision threatens the Brat-era ethos, ultimately eroding Charli's sense of authenticity and causing a breakdown.
Read at Consequence
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