Black Butterflies: A Swedish Chat About Cinema

Mate, have you seen Black Butterflies yet? The whole film is buzzing in my head like a swarm of bees, and I’m torn between amazement and the odd bit of “what just happened?” It’s by Paula van der Oest, that Dutch director who’s pretty bloody good at getting under your skin. Frankly, who knew butterflies could be so dark? I always thought they were just colourful little things flapping about my grandma’s garden in Uppsala.

First off, let’s chat about the brilliant cast. You’ve got the incredible Renée Soutendijk – she’s basically Dutch film royalty, and here she takes center stage like it’s a piece of cinnamon bun. Her character’s this fascinating mix of mystery and tragedy; it’s like peeling an onion, and not just ’cause it might make you weep a bit. One scene she’s calm, sipping coffee, then woosh!, intense as a sudden Stockholm downpour.

Visually, the film plays like a moody Swedish autumn—grey skies and a hint of something lurking just beneath. It’s got that European feel, you know, a bit like old Ingmar Bergman with a splash of coffee noir. The soundtrack’s all moody pianos and half-whispered strings; it made me think of that one rainy night at the Götgatan cinema where I first felt proper grown-up, mystery thrumming through the dark as credits rolled.

And if you love wrestling with stories that aren’t just handed to you on a silver plate, then this is right up your alley. But sometimes, I swear, I felt like I needed a bloody map to navigate the plot twists. One minute, you’re all comfy, and then bam!, the rug’s pulled from under you. Maybe that’s the magic, or maybe I’m just easily confused. Who knows?

So grab a fika and give this one a go. If nothing else, it’ll give you something to chew over like yesterday’s knäckebröd. Cheers!

Check the trailer below