While at first you might believe to know where the story is going. It follows the all too typical struggling families in America. Then something drastic happens that changes the course of one young man’s life forever. In Kantemir Balagov’s Butterfly Jam you are constantly asking the film questions, wondering who, what or why. But in truth, it never is revealed in full. By the end, you are left with more emotions than you would have expected, and a curiosity as to just how you felt this way.
Pyteh (Talha Akdogan) is a young 16-year-old who spends his time either on the wrestling mat or at home with his family’s struggles. This young Circassian boy is so much more than meets the eye: He is dealing with his father and his family’s failing diner while trying to persevere at sport and grow into his own. His father, Azik (Barry Keoghan), has never dealt with the struggles of the past and lives with them in the present, affecting Pyteh daily. When one of Azik’s silly schemes goes wrong, everything changes. This one simple and impulsive decision causes Pyteh to rethink life. Masculinity, family legacy and even pride are all taken into question and what is to come next is put on the line.
A Star Is Born in Newark: Akdogan Carries Butterfly Jam on His Shoulders
As soon as you are brought into this world, Newark, New Jersey, there is a sense that what is given from a good production value is not that glamorous Hollywood film. Which of course you would expect when the Cannes Quinzaines is all about supporting independent cinema. From the look and feel of the film, right away the audience is prepared for what will be touching and relationship based for the next 110 minutes. The pace of the film and the concept you originally believed it to be about might change, but the way it looks will not. It succeeds in the way in which Balagov and cinematographer Jomo Fray make it feel like you are in their world. You see what the characters are experiencing, even if not entirely from their perspectives.
Perhaps this is the problem with casting big, or currently popular names, in independent films. When you see one particular actor continuing down the same path of characters, you feel like you know what you are going to get. Keoghan is here, just two years after Andrea Arnold’s Bird (2024), as a teen father and you just predicted this film will not be an easy watch emotionally. Things turn when you are introduced to young Akdogan, the true heart of the film. A plot like this requires great connection between the family members in the film. There is more than this with each relationship young Pyteh has. His connections come through the way in which Akdogan is able to share the character’s feelings with the audience. Altering more than just his facial expressions, we can read the body language all within.
Unfortunately, Akdogan’s performance does not hold justice with some other issues found within the film. The characters — Zalya (Riley Keough), Azik, Marat (Harry Melling), and Pyteh — all refer to themselves as Circassians. A community of those from an old town now part of Russia who live in New Jersey. Strange here that a Russian director would choose to cast two actors from the United Kingdom, and one from America. Of course they do well in their respective roles, something is missing. There could have been so much more with some augmented accents and actors who come from their respective heritage, like that of Akdogan.
That is all not to say Butterfly Jam does not have other good moments. As mentioned, yes Akdogan is brilliant in what is this debut role. But I also believe that the way in which elements were introduced to us and the hidden questions allows some sort of a journey to be taken by the viewer throughout the film. From enjoying the tender quality of the film itself, the additional thinking that I was provided with gave me something more than a film whose ending is all too predictable. As someone who has not seen many films, compared to others, I do tend to be surprised by the smallest twists. Those that Balagov implement are more or less random bits of script that you would expect nothing from them. This is where the questions arise. You meet a pelican at the beginning and believe it will come and go, but by the end you are happily surprised with where Balagov takes his characters and their bird.
Butterfly Jam might not have a specific audience in mind. It is made through different ideas and not all will connect with others. While the casting choices, though not bad actors, might not be prudent for the characters’ origins, it does not mean that there were not enjoyable pieces crafted by the actors. At its heart Butterfly Jam wants to be a piece of cinema that breaks some barriers of masculinity but it does not quite make the leap it could have. Leave it to Akdogan, however, to deliver a brilliant performance.
Kantemir Balagov’s latest independent film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival as part of the Director’s Fortnight. Filled with intimate moments, touching relationships, and a camera that brings you further into the film, Butterfly Jam explores another round of family struggles.
Grade: C-
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Butterfly Jam
Set against the backdrop of New Jersey’s Circassian community, a teenager helps out in his family’s struggling diner specializing in Circassian cuisine.
