Judy Davis, ‘Bridgerton’s’ Florence Hunt Star in ‘Butterfly Stroke’

by

Celsius Entertainment has obtained global distribution rights, with the exception of Switzerland, for “Butterfly Stroke,” a movie directed by Denis Rabaglia and featuring two-time Academy Award nominee Judy Davis, along with rising stars like Florence Hunt from “Bridgerton” and Caroline Peters. Production is set to begin on July 28th.

The “Butterfly Stroke” narrative revolves around Ruth (Davis), a renowned British swimmer, who meticulously orchestrates every facet of her life, even the conclusion. Stricken with a fatal brain tumor, she embarks on a poignant farewell voyage to Switzerland, a place where assisted dying is permitted by law.

Granddaughter Lori (Hunt) is contacted by her long-lost grandmother, Ruth, who shares her plans and upcoming inheritance. Eager and determined in her own right, Lori doesn’t want to miss out on Ruth. In a hurry, she travels to Switzerland to confront or clarify Ruth’s intentions.

In the new version, I tried to make the text more conversational and easier to read while maintaining the original meaning.

As a devoted cinemagoer, I find myself immersed in a tale unfolding in Zurich. My protagonist, Ruth, presents an uncommon demeanor that clashes with the established norms within the institution she’s associated with. This discord soon transforms into a distressing predicament for her assigned caretaker.

Ruth encounters her equal in the formidable Dr. Steiger (Peters), whose strict adherence to rules creates an intriguing confrontation, culminating in a wickedly amusing stalemate that leaves me on the edge of my seat.

At the same time, Lori is all of a sudden drawn away by Ingrid (Stern Takeda), an appealing Swiss soccer player whom she unintentionally grows fond of.

Due to unforeseen delays in Ruth’s meticulously planned schedule, grandmother and granddaughter find themselves in an amusingly surprising limbo. This unexpected situation serves as a platform for them to address the emotional distance between them, while hidden truths such as the enigmatic incident that disrupted Ruth’s Olympic dreams start to surface.

Davis earned an Academy Award nomination for both “Husbands and Wives” and “A Passage to India,” won a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) for “My Brilliant Career,” and has received three Emmy Awards. Among her other notable works is the film “Nitram.

As a devoted cinephile, I can proudly claim credit for being involved in some truly captivating productions such as “Bridgerton” on Netflix, the mesmerizing “Cursed,” and the soon-to-be-released masterpiece, “Queen at Sea,” alongside the legendary Juliette Binoche.

Peters has been recognized for his roles in Sönke Wortmann’s trilogy “The Nickname,” “The Last Name,” and “The First Name,” which were all successful in Germany. Meanwhile, Stern Takeda starred as the main character in “Parallel Me” on Paramount+, and shared lead roles with others in “Love Addicts” on Amazon Prime.

The “Butterfly Stroke” is a production by Nat Luurtsema, Denis Rabaglia, and Jessica Townsend, with direction by Denis Rabaglia who has previously worked on miniseries such as “On the High Seas” for ARTE, and films including “My Beloved Enemy,” “Marcello Marcello,” and “Azzurro.”

This Switzerland/U.K. joint venture is produced by Michael Steiger and Michela Pini from Turnus Film, and Chris Curling and Anya Ryzhenkova from Zephyr Films. Thierry Wase-Bailey and Henriette Wollmann of Celsius Ent. serve as executive producers.

Wase-Bailey expressed: “It’s truly wonderful to collaborate with our filmmakers once more, this time with Chris Curling, whom we worked with on the hit drama ‘The Bookshop.’ We are thrilled about the return of the talented Judy Davis to the screen, a double Oscar nominee no less. In fact, my very first steps in the film industry were selling ‘Kangaroo,’ a movie starring Judy Davis and Colin Friels, based on the D.H. Lawrence novel. The genius move by the filmmakers to cast ‘Bridgerton’ sensation Florence Hunt as the granddaughter will certainly broaden its appeal across generations. This film addresses significant topics in a daring, heartfelt, and comical manner, and I am confident it will resonate in all markets.

Read More

2025-05-17 12:47