Written by Eleanor Bate, Film and TV Deputy Editor, and Eve Perrins, Second year, English and History
Brat Summer, Brat Winter, Brat Autumn, and Brat Spring. Dance-pop icon and global sensation Charli XCX is still riding the wave of her culture-dominating 2024 era. Her mockumentary-style film The Moment explores exactly that: what comes after a pop phenomenon like Brat, and how an artist attempts to hold onto the momentum once the summer that defined it is over.
Released in UK cinemas on February 20th, The Moment playfully blurs fiction and reality as it imagines the pressure of sustaining such a defining cultural moment. Epigram had the opportunity to attend a special screening of the film on 6 March, followed by a ‘Party 4 U’ afterparty at Bristol’s iconic independent cinema, Watershed.
The event was hosted by Bristol drag queen Quiches Lorraine, who, for one night only, fully embodied the pop diva herself, appearing in black buss-down locks, a white vest, and dark shades. Joining them on the decks was Girl, So Confusing collaborator Lorde, or rather, local drag performer Tess Drive, spinning tracks for the afterparty DJ set.
Entering the venue, the space was already decked out in Brat green. A themed cocktail aptly titled ‘Cocktail’ appeared on the menu, alongside posters advertising a Charli XCX lookalike contest. Cinemagoers arrived in mini skirts and crop tops, bringing true party-girl energy to the evening. The atmosphere felt less like a typical night at the cinema and more like the crowd was gearing up for one of Charli’s shows, ready to dance and sing long before the screening of The Moment had even begun.
As the lights dimmed in Screen 1, in came the Essex diva herself, Charli XCX (or, more accurately, Quiches Lorraine), who had “travelled all the way to Bristol” to introduce her film, The Moment, which she confidently described as “the best film of all time.”
The audience erupted. The room sounded less like a cinema and more like a hen do in full swing — laughter, whoops, and cheers echoing around the theatre.
It was showtime.
The Moment, directed by Aidan Zamiri in his feature debut, is a mockumentary that follows Charli XCX and her team as they attempt to prolong the magic of her Brat era through an explosive tour and concert film. Along the way, it explores the complexities that come with sudden fame and mounting pressure, raising questions about identity, persona, and the volatile cycle of the music industry.
What matters more: doing it, or doing it your way? And where do you go after you’ve already done it? The Moment attempts to grapple with exactly that, though it doesn’t always land with full clarity...
Brat — we know her, we love her, but are we already over her? The Moment has received mixed reviews from critics and, at times, it’s easy to see why. For me, the film occasionally misses the mark.
The mockumentary offers a deep dive into the tension between public image and private identity in celebrity life. What could have been a fully realised satirical triumph doesn’t always commit quite far enough to the bit. Instead, it sits in an intriguing in-between: exploring the push from labels to sustain a cultural high, the desire to never let the good times end, and the artist’s own need to evolve and remain relevant in an ever-shifting landscape.
At its core, the film captures a reluctance to let go, whether that’s a label attempting to capitalise on a fleeting moment, or an artist holding onto the era that defined their rise. The Moment has, fittingly, moments of real clarity, where the tension between artistic integrity and commercial success threatens to fracture the already fragile relationship between art and product. The confusion, the blur of names, assistants, and competing visions, paired with its pulsing score, reinforces this sense of chaos and uncertainty.
Visually, the film is striking. From brutalist London hotels to hazy Ibiza spas and grungy warehouse spaces, it’s beautifully shot, capturing a slick, hyper-stylised world. While consistently entertaining, it stops just short of diving deeper into the industry it critiques. Charli plays a heightened, self-deprecating version of herself — sharp, funny, and knowingly monstrous at times.
However, the film’s emotional core arguably lies elsewhere. The character of Celeste delivers one of its most grounded performances; Haley Gates brings a dry wit and subtle vulnerability that cuts through the chaos. Watching her creative vision gradually overtaken by Johannes’ corporate spectacle feels genuinely frustrating, giving the film the emotional weight it occasionally struggles to sustain elsewhere.
There are moments of self-awareness, playful jabs at the label-driven push of “Brat Summer” and its more out-of-touch attempts to stay relevant, but the satire doesn’t always fully land. As a result, the film can leave you feeling more uncertain than moved. It critiques the machinery surrounding the moment, while still feeling somewhat entangled within it.
Overall, The Moment is an enjoyable and visually compelling watch. Its ensemble cast, including Kate Berlant, Jamie Demetriou, and Rachel Sennott, lean into the chaos with clear enthusiasm. While it doesn’t always fully commit to its satirical edge, there’s something compelling about a film attempting to capture a cultural moment that still feels so immediate. In many ways, it plays like a near-instant period piece, preserving the energy of an era we’re not quite ready to leave behind.
If the film wrestles with the pressure of sustaining a cultural moment, the afterparty proved just how alive that moment still feels.
After the screening, the Brat-themed afterparty took over the bar at Watershed, and it was packed. The space was buzzing: loud, crowded, and alive with energy. Photographers weaved through an eclectic crowd of party-goers, snapping shots as guests grabbed their branded cocktails and posed in Brat photobooths. On the decks, Tess Drive kept the energy high, spinning the best of Charli XCX and her collaborators.
Then came the crowning moment: a Charli XCX lookalike contest that quickly captured everyone’s attention. Hosted once again by our Charli for the night, Quiches Lorraine, ten baddies took to the stage, each attempting to embody Charli XCX’s unmistakable aura. Through a series of challenges, the contestants strutted their stuff, serving divalicious poses for the big cam. After a few eliminations, the competition moved into a speech round, where contestants delivered their most Charli-coded lines in her iconic Essex accent.
The final round saw them, of course, perform the “Apple” dance, and if you haven’t seen it, where have you been? It was genuinely joyful to watch: every contestant gave it their all, and the room took on a fun, camp, and deeply inclusive atmosphere, with the crowd cheering and hyping up every performance.
In the end, the top three contestants took home prizes, with the winner receiving a vinyl copy of Charli’s latest release, Wuthering Heights, courtesy of Bristol’s own Rough Trade.
I have to give the whole night tens across the board. Watershed put on an incredibly fun and exciting event in a creative space that feels vital to Bristol’s cultural scene, one that fosters a sense of safety and celebration, particularly for LGBTQ+ audiences. From the drag host and DJ to the cigarette ashtray cake brought out later in the night, the theming was spot-on from start to finish; it never missed a beat.
While it’s now too late to catch The Moment on the big screen, it’s well worth seeking out when it lands on streaming — whether you’re interested in the inner workings of the music industry, the pressures of pop stardom, or you just really love blasting Von Dutch at full volume.
Featured Image: Instagram / Charley Williams
Are you still in your Brat era?
