Celsius Entertainment has picked up world sales rights (excluding Switzerland) to Butterfly Stroke, a Switzerland–U.K. co-production directed by Denis Rabaglia. Principal photography begins July 28, with Judy Davis and Florence Hunt leading a cast that includes Caroline Peters and Malaya Stern Takeda.
Butterfly Stroke follows Ruth (Davis), a former British swimming champion who, after learning she faces a terminal brain tumor, travels to Zurich to seek an assisted-dying protocol. She contacts her estranged granddaughter, Lori (Hunt), to inform her of both her plan and the inheritance she will receive. Refusing to stand by, Lori flies to Switzerland determined to intervene or at least grasp Ruth’s reasoning.
At the clinic, Ruth’s candid approach clashes with the facility’s routines, generating tense—and at times darkly funny—encounters with case managers. Her most rigid opponent proves to be Dr. Steiger (Peters), whose strict adherence to protocol meets Ruth’s irreverent wit. Meanwhile, Lori becomes involved with Ingrid (Stern Takeda), a Swiss footballer whose warmth challenges Lori’s guarded nature.
As procedural delays extend Ruth’s timeline, the two women find themselves in a holding pattern that peels back layers of their shared past. An incident that derailed Ruth’s Olympic aspirations emerges, offering Lori unexpected insight into how her grandmother’s decisions were shaped.
Judy Davis brings a wealth of dramatic experience to the role. A two-time Academy Award nominee for Husbands and Wives and A Passage to India, she won a BAFTA for My Brilliant Career and has earned three Emmy Awards. Florence Hunt, known for her breakout performance in Bridgerton and roles in Netflix’s Cursed and the upcoming Queen at Sea, steps into her first major feature role. Caroline Peters is celebrated in Germany for Sönke Wortmann’s Der Spitzname trilogy, and Malaya Stern Takeda starred in Paramount+’s Parallel Me and Amazon Prime’s Love Addicts.
Script credits go to Nat Luurtsema, Denis Rabaglia and Jessica Townsend. Rabaglia’s previous work includes the ARTE miniseries On the High Seas and features such as My Beloved Enemy, Marcello Marcello and Azzurro. Turnus Film’s Michael Steiger and Michela Pini alongside Zephyr Films’ Chris Curling and Anya Ryzhenkova produce, with Thierry Wase-Bailey and Henriette Wollmann serving as executive producers.
Thierry Wase-Bailey praised the collaboration: “After our success on The Bookshop, working with Chris Curling again felt natural. Casting Bridgerton’s Florence Hunt brings fresh appeal. This film treats serious themes with a blend of wit and heart that will connect with audiences worldwide.”
Filming will take place on location in Zurich and surrounding Swiss landscapes, contrasting the clinic’s clinical interiors with alpine vistas. Cinematographer Viola Canales aims to capture both the region’s stark natural beauty and the film’s emotional intensity.
Ahead of its festival run, Celsius has scheduled private buyer screenings at Cannes and plans to present Butterfly Stroke to international buyers in Toronto. Early industry feedback highlights the chemistry between Davis and Hunt and the film’s balance of humor and pathos. Marketing will feature water-inspired imagery referencing Ruth’s swimming background, with a first-look trailer slated for late autumn.
