Charli XCX Shares Her Vision Behind the Mockumentary ‘The Moment’ and Talks About Kylie Jenner’s Role
Charli XCX’s “The Moment” Premieres at Sundance, Embracing Vulnerability in Art
Charli XCX’s latest project, the comedy mockumentary The Moment, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday, shedding light on the complexities of vulnerability in the creative process. In her own words, Charli emphasizes the importance of accepting a range of emotions, stating, “It’s OK to be vulnerable and volatile and a mess, and that those are all just normal human emotions.”
The artist and writer-director Aidan Zamiri aimed to transcend conventional storytelling. Charli expressed, "I’ve always been interested in flipping the form in any sort of medium that I’m working within," explaining that she wanted to discuss her emotional experiences while creating her album and the subsequent release. She noted the transformative nature of art when it is shared with the world, describing the bittersweet feeling when it evolves beyond its creator’s intent.
Zamiri highlighted the film’s fictional nature but believes it captures a deeper honesty than traditional documentaries. "What we were able to do with this film is hopefully touch on something that’s even more honest and more vulnerable," he remarked, adding that for Charli, relinquishing creative control felt akin to a grieving process. “This film, in a way, is about how little control you can sometimes have,” she shared.
The film features cameos from friends, including Julia Fox, Rachel Sennott, and Kylie Jenner, making her acting debut. Charli praised Jenner’s performance, stating, “Kylie was just phenomenal. She totally got the assignment. She is a really great actress.”
Zamiri, who developed a close working relationship with Charli during her “360” video, felt a shared perspective on art-making. “You have the same sort of insecurities, same instincts a lot of the time,” he said, which facilitated discussions about what Charli was experiencing in real time.
In The Moment, Alexander Skarsgård portrays Johannes, a director tasked with imposing a more controlled vision on Charli’s Brat concert. Reflecting on his role, he humorously declared, “I’d say that Johannes is the hero of the story,” and described him as someone trying to strip away Charli’s authenticity to make her art more marketable.
Skarsgård further remarked on the insecurities faced by creative professionals. “It’s really just a bunch of really insecure people throwing out thoughts and ideas because they feel like they should probably have a thought or an idea,” he said, stressing that these feelings are echoed in the film, revealing the struggles of those in the creative sector.
The reception of The Moment at Sundance highlights a collective exploration of the intersection between artistry and personal struggle, resonating with audiences seeking authenticity in a world full of curated images.
