Cathy Yan says Charli xcx brings a deep understanding of cinema to the screen, and not just star power.
The director, who worked with the pop artist on the new film The galleristpraised Charli xcx’s knowledge and respect for filmmaking during the film’s premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on January 24.
“She really knows the business,” Yan said People about the 33-year-old singer. “She is a cinephile through and through. She respects films, understands them and brings real maturity and insight to her work.”
Yan called The galleristalso starring Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega, a dark satire set in the art world that says Charli xcx felt like a natural fit for the project. According to the director, the casting was not only creative but also personal, since Charli xcx previously went to art school.
“There was a role that really suited her,” Yan explained. “Once I got to know her background and interests, it made even more sense for her to join this story.”
In the film, Portman plays a powerful art gallery owner who pressures her overworked assistant, played by Ortega, to sell a highly controversial work of art.
The Gallerist wasn’t Charli xcx’s only Sundance appearance this year. She also premiered The Moment, a mockumentary inspired by her real-life Brat Tour, on January 23. The film was directed and co-written by Aidan Zamiri.
After that performance, Charli xcx acknowledged that her character reflected parts of her own personality.
“I obviously relate a lot to my character,” she said, joking that while she hopes she isn’t as difficult as her on-screen counterpart, her real-life managers in the audience might disagree.
She added that the character’s emotional spirals were familiar territory, noting, “I’m a volatile person as an artist, but I’m also kind.”
