Archive of films Nadia, Butterfly / Nadia, Butterfly
Top-flight competitive sports only recognise winners and losers. Nonetheless, does the decision to leave a world of constant grind automatically suggest capitulation? This intimate film depicts a young swimmer participating at the Olympic Games in what is the last competition of her career, yet what goes on around her becomes the backdrop for a much bigger battle.
Synopsis
Nadia, a 23-year-old swimmer, has some tough challenges ahead: not only is she going for gold at the Tokyo Olympics, competing alongside her three teammates, but she also has to accept the consequences of her decision to retire once the Games are over. Given that top-flight competitive sports only recognise winners and losers, does the choice to leave a world of constant grind automatically suggest capitulation? This subtle drama about suppressed emotions rather than performance itself is the second film by Pascal Plante, who entrusted the main roles to professional athletes. Plante drew on his own experiences as a competitive swimmer while submitting a vivid and authentic portrayal of his heroine’s inner world as she attempts to navigate the way ahead.
Sandra Hezinová
About the director

Pascal Plante (1984, Québec). Selected filmography: La génération porn (2014, doc.), Blue-Eyed Blonde (Blonde aux yeux bleus, 2015, short), Nonna (2016, short), Fake Tattoos (Les faux tatouages, 2017), Nadia, Butterfly (2020).
Contacts
Sphere Films International
4200, Saint-Laurent Blvd, Suite 1200, H2W 2R2, Montreal, Québec
Canada
Tel: +1 514 866 3020, +1 514 827 6428
E-mail: [email protected]
About the film
Color, DCP
Section: | Horizons |
---|---|
Director: | Pascal Plante |
Screenplay: | Pascal Plante |
Dir. of Photography: | Stéphanie Weber Biron |
Editor: | Amélie Labrèche |
Art Director: | Joëlle Péloquin |
Producer: | Dominique Dussault |
Production: | Nemesis Films |
Cast: | Katerine Savard, Ariane Mainville, Hilary Caldwell, Pierre-Yves Cardinal |
Sales: | Sphere Films International |