Movie
Erupcja
Tropes in this movie
Be Yourself
highBethany suppresses her sapphic identity while in a stable heterosexual relationship with Rob, who is on the verge of proposing. External pressure to conform (the romantic itinerary, the engagement ring, the 'stable' relationship) is shown as unsettling and stifling — she 'pulls away' from Rob's plans. The 'effortless, harmonious energy' with Nel contrasts sharply with her unease with Rob, signaling that her authentic self is being denied. The quiet ending of 'life-changing decisions' represents the turning point of self-acceptance. The recurring volcanic eruption motif — igniting only when Bethany and Nel are together — functions as a symbol of authentic identity breaking through suppression.
About this trope: A character hides or suppresses their true identity to conform, then finds strength and happiness by embracing who they really are. Authenticity is the real superpower.
Full plot (spoilers)
Bethany, a pop icon (played by Charli xcx), travels to Warsaw, Poland with her attentive boyfriend Rob, who has secretly planned a romantic itinerary and carries an engagement ring. Sensing the impending proposal, Bethany feels unsettled and pulls away from Rob's carefully laid plans. A volcanic eruption (Mount Etna) strands them in Warsaw, giving Bethany the opportunity to reunite with Nel (Lena Góra), a childhood friend who lives in the city and works at a flower shop. The film reveals a recurring motif: every time Bethany and Nel are together, a volcano erupts somewhere in the world — a pattern dating back to when the two were 16 and Bethany was stranded in Warsaw for a month. Over a few days, the two women rekindle a deeply felt but chaste connection rooted in sapphic synchronicity and a shared love of poetry. The narrative contrasts Bethany's unease within her stable romantic relationship with the effortless, harmonious energy she shares with Nel. Rather than grand emotional eruptions, the film traces small internal implosions — Bethany's growing awareness that she is drawn to disrupting her own life, even when the results feel inevitable rather than explosive. The 71-minute film ends with life-changing decisions unfolding quietly, more like cooling lava than a violent blast.
Sources: IMDb (via web search summary), Wikipedia, Screen Rant review, TMDb overview