A perennial favorite on our site, Kantemir Balagov first gained acclaim with his two Un Certain Regard-winning films, which solidified his reputation as one of the most thrilling auteurs of his generation. Yet, bringing his third feature to the spotlight proved to bit longer and challenging journey. Following 2017’s Closeness and 2019’s Directing Prize of Un Certain Regard and FIPRESCI Prize winning Beanpole (read ★★★★ review), this highly anticipated third outing landed some major talent both in front of and behind the camera. Here is Everything We Know So Far … about Kantemir Balagov’s Butterfly Jam.
Balagov was focused on moving into a contemporary setting with a local backdrop, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw many Russian artists and intellectuals leave the country and the exodus to the States meant that the project (originally titled Monica) had some re-tooling to do. He (along with his partner filmmaker Kira Kovalenko) was welcomed to the States, and at some point was supposed to direct the pilot episode of HBO’s upcoming drama series The Last of Us (that didn’t materialize). Square Peg producers Lars Knudsen and Ari Aster were supposedly interested at some point and the film was suppose to begin production in 2024, but finally it was a March to May production that finally took place with a more international production team in place.
Co-written with author Marina Stepnova, this is about 15-year-old Pyteh who lives in New Jersey’s Circassian community where his father and aunt run a diner specializing in Circassian cuisine. The business is struggling. When he’s not helping out in the restaurant, the boy is training to become a professional wrestler. After one of his father’s misguided schemes goes wrong, Pyteh must come to terms with the man his beloved father is – and isn’t – and finds himself confronted with a violence that will force him to grow up faster than he would like.
Featuring Barry Keoghan, Riley Keough and Harry Melling, it is newcomer Talha Akdoganv who plays the lead role.
We were pleasantly surprised by some of artistic collaborators to join the project namely Cinematographer Jomo Fray, Production Designer Angelo Zamparutti of Honey Cigar and Jeanne du Barry, and Costume Designer Judy Shrewsbury. Alexander Rodnyansky returns as a producer, alongside Gaetan Rousseau, Pascal Caucheteux and Pauline Lamy.
Production took place in March to about May of this year — locations include Paris. The aim will be to present this in competition for the Palme d’Or making it three for three for the Russian filmmaker on the Croisette.
