BFF26: Butterfly Stroke

Australian premiere

Judy Davis (The Dressmaker) delivers a standout performance in Butterfly Stroke, a bold drama that tackles important issues with humour and heart.

A British swimming champion, 65-year-old Ruth (Davis) wants to be in control of every aspect of her life, including its end. So, when she is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, she decides to book a final trip to Zurich, Switzerland, where she can legally access assisted dying. She calls her estranged granddaughter Lori (Florence Hunt, Bridgerton) to inform her of the plan and the inheritance she’ll soon receive. But the stubborn and impulsive Lori rushes to Switzerland to at least understand Ruth’s decision.

In Zurich, Ruth’s attitude causes conflict, and she soon butts heads with the meticulous Dr. Regula Steiger in a darkly comedic standoff. Meanwhile Lori becomes preoccupied with an infatuation with captivating Swiss soccer player Ingrid.

As Ruth’s carefully laid plans get delayed, granddaughter and grandmother are forced into a strange limbo. Uninhibited, they begin to mend their once emotionally distant relationship, and long buried secrets rise to the surface.