LOGLINE: Ruth (Jennifer Saunders) is an eccentric, determined woman who wants control over everything. Even death. She heads to Zurich for an orderly, legal exit. Her estranged granddaughter Lori (Ruby Stokes) gatecrashes and won’t leave without her. Their reunion is transformative and loving.

CAST:  Jennifer Saunders– well loved for ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS the TV series and movies and more recently lending her voice to huge animation MINIONS, CORALINE, SHREK 2 and SING 1 and 2 and lately appeared in DEATH ON THE NILE. Saunders’ films have collectively grossed over $3.5bn worldwide.
Ruby Stokes is a fast rising young actor thanks to THE BURNING GIRLS [Paramount+], LOCKWOOD & CO [Netflix], BRIDGERTON [Netflix seasons 1 + 2], and UNA in 2016 also starring Rooney Mara. LOCKWOOD & CO [Netflix] is 93% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94% Audience score. It reached Netflix’s number one spot and earned an impressive 79.91 million hours of viewing in its first three weeks alone. On its second week of release, it was the most-watched show on Netflix in 13 countries around the world, including the UK, and in the top ten in 61 others.

Target audience: The primary target market for this project is skewed female 21 to 45/ smaller numbers 45+/ secondary market males, early 20s to 50s/ LGBTQ+/ advocates of medically assisted death.

Recent comps: THE FAREWELL [$23m WW BO], NYAD [Netflix, RT 85% critics/ 87% audience], ME BEFORE YOU [$209m WW BO], BLACKBIRD with Susan Sarandon & Kate Winslet, AFTER SUN [$8.5m WW BO], A MAN CALLED OTTO [$112m WW BO], A MAN CALLED OVE [$30m WW BO], NEBRASKA $12m WW BO]

This is a beautiful story. It’s a tearjerker. Ruth doesn’t appear to be that likeable at first. She’s somewhat standoffish, but we grow to like her, admire her and care about her. She has a dry sense of humor. Same with Lori. She starts out as an aggressive football player, someone who wants things her way, but by the story’s end, we understand who she is and see her grow as a person. She’s found someone special to love in Ingrid.

The film is from Chris Curling producer of THE MIRACLE CLUB [$7.1m BO WW to-date], THE BOOKSHOP [$12m], ANTHROPOID with Oscar Winner Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan [$5.1m], THE LAST STATION with Helen Mirren [$21m], HANNIBAL RISING [$82M] etc.. and Michael Steiger producer of NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON with Jeremy Irons [$12m] from Academy winning director Bille August and multiple episodes of the hit German TV series TATORT.

DIRECTOR: Denis Rabaglia (My Beloved Enemy, Marcello Marcello, Azzurro) has won numerous prizes including audience awards and also produced a huge Swiss hit in 2006 [GROUNDING- THE LAST DAYS OF SWISSAIR]. He’s worked across genres, but comedy is where his passion lies. “I’m always trying to make things clear while keeping them complex. I want to make viewers see through the ambiguity of a situation, and for that to touch off feelings or laughter in them.”. We believe Denis’ successful approach combining emotional drama and comedy is perfect for BUTTERFLY STROKE.

WRITERS: Jessica Townsend (Shorts: Saline, 15 Seconds, 4 Conversations about Love, Humane Resources); Denis Rabaglia (My Beloved Enemy, Marcello Marcello, Azzurro); Nat Luurtsema (shorts: Ouzo & Blackcurrant, Wyrdoes, Three Women Wait for Death)

In Pre-Production

SPP Q1 2025