With the release of The Moment, Charli xcx (Charlotte Aitchison) finally says goodbye to Brat. In this mockumentary-style satire, Aitchison and Aidan Zamiri, The Moment’s director, transport us back to 2024 as they present a fictionalised version of the lead up to Charli’s debut arena tour. The film hinges on presenting the industry pressures that Charli felt to capitalise on what she is repeatedly told will be the peak of the career, as well as her personal conflict in letting go of the Brat era. 

First of all, this is definitely a film for the fans. The Moment is brimming with references and jokes regarding the Brat era that would likely be lost on those less familiar. For this reason, I would not be surprised if the film’s positive reception does not transcend her core fanbase. However, if you are a long-time fan of Charli, like me, or even just joined for the ride during Brat summer, I would say there is much to be taken and enjoyed from The Moment. 

Unsurprisingly, this film hugely relies upon Aitchison’s acting capability which I believe holds up for the film’s material, even if she is just playing – what she describes as – an exaggerated version of herself. She is also involved in many moments of true comedic brilliance in the film, additionally supported by the hilarious Jamie Demetriou, who you may know as ‘Stath’ from Channel 4’s Stath Lets Flats, who plays the role of Charli’s well-meaning but slightly useless manager. Another stand-out role is provided by Alexander Skarsgård who plays the commercially driven tour film director, Johannes, who is brought in by Charli’s label and contributes to the main point of tension within the film, derailing the tour’s production and erasing Charli’s intended creative direction. Throughout, there are also some surprisingly well-performed cameos, such as from Kylie Jenner, who Charli fittingly bumps into at an Ibiza spa retreat, after she has fled the chaos of tour rehearsals.

In some places, The Moment can take a quieter, slower pace than might be expected, despite it covering the chaotic and sleep-deprived weeks of endless promotion and preparation leading up to the tour. That being said, the moments of tension between Charli and the industry people that punctuate the film are powerfully performed, and compellingly forebode the amusingly disastrous and chaotic climax of the film. 

Another defining feature is Aidan Zamiri’s direction. Zamiri has previously worked with Aitchison on her music videos for ‘360’ and ‘Guess’, both from the album Brat. As someone familiar with these videos, and how they in part defined the album’s visuals and aesthetic, I believe it is extremely effective how Zamiri’s stylistic choices, such as the use of hand-held camera movement and close-up shots, have translated to a feature-length film, as well as successfully evoke the 2024 Brat era, transporting the viewer back in time. 

To conclude, while much of the film’s humour and specific references may prevent it from widespread appeal, The Moment is certainly an entertaining watch for fans of Charli xcx, and somehow evokes nostalgia for 2024. Being Aitchison’s first major acting role, The Moment also bodes well for her upcoming acting projects, such as in Pete Oh’s Erupcja and Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex. 

Rating: 3.5/5

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