Charli XCX IN “Alone Together.”

A brief intro filmed during her 2019 headlining tour immediately sets the scene for “Alone Together,” a new documentary by Charli XCX that’s meant as a pairing for 2020’s made-at-home album How I’m Feeling Now.

On the introspective deep dive, a chirpy Charli XCX is shown on and off stage while a stern counterpart narrates a story that initially seems at odds with the outlook. “Nothing is good enough,” the artist, who’s name is Charlotte Aitchison, says. This plants the seeds for a recurring theme of the hour-long film. The project then mostly covers the five-week period leading up to the release of the album Aitchison made in quarantine shortly after the pandemic hit the world. (The film also precedes a new album on the way in March).

The film was produced by the duo of Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler (a duo that’s made music videos for A.G. Cook and SOPHIE, Lil Nas X, Dua Lipa, Rosalia, Kanye West and Cardi B) in their feature film debut.

Charli XCX also presents “Alone Together” as a love letter to her LGBTQ+ fanbase. It’s dedicated to those who found a community in supporting her. What follows the abrupt transition into COVID-tainted times is a vlog-style documentary on Aitchison’s progress as she embarks on her creative journey. 

The singer-songwriter-producer initially claims that the album would mostly be about her relationship with her partner. As time unfolds, it becomes clearer and clearer that the creative exercise is more about her relationship to herself than anyone else. Through Instagram live sessions snippets, candid shots and confessions of mental health struggles, she progressively paints a picture as to what this new body of work represents for her and for her fans.

The pacing of the documentary itself reflects that of the music made. It’s constantly alternating between chaos and lulls. Revelations and breakdowns are sprinkled throughout, including the harrowing admission: “I don’t think I’m pretty enough, I don’t think I’m smart enough, I don’t think I’m interesting enough to function without my work.” The emotional rollercoaster reflects the turmoil the world was in at that time, as we had no choice but to sit with our thoughts for the first time in a long time.

When the album is finally complete, a palpable sense of relief comes through. After an intense voyage through the onset of the pandemic, the accomplishment feels gargantuan in nature. And the audience is made to feel part of it.

Still, “Alone Together” is a bittersweet endeavor. It brings viewers back to a terrible period in time we all experienced while also showing people finding comfort remotely to get through it all. Reliving those months through Charli XCX’s eyes won’t necessarily be a very pleasant experience–especially considering how little progress we seem to have made since then with regards to the handling of the pandemic. 

But if not now, when would be the most opportune moment to release this? Right after it was made? Surely no: people needed distraction, not a dose of their own reality. Two years after it was filmed? Maybe, but not everyone will want to dive back into a terrible experience they might still be living to some degree. Whenever the pandemic is no longer the principle global preoccupation? Would anybody care then? The makers of “Alone Together” were clearly stuck between a rock and a hard place. There just was no winning this one. 

Follow writer Red Dziri at Twitter.com/red_dziri.