[CFF 22 Review] ‘Giving Birth to a Butterfly’ finds solidarity in uncomfortable places

Hear Us Scream
by R.C. Jara

In Theodore Schaefer’s Giving Birth to a Butterfly, freedom of choice is unattainable within the confines of a nuclear American family. The dreamy photography of Matt Clegg and music by Meade Bernard are deceptive in their gentleness. Each sequence is framed within an ornate aspect ratio, drawing the viewer in beat by beat before the film truly goes off the rails. There’s a haunted home movie aesthetic bolstered by practical effects (a la Michel Gondry) throughout the picture, and its tone doesn’t stray too far from the horror genre. From the beginning, it feels as if every moment is on the verge of combustion. This is especially readable in the body language and expressions of one of our main characters Diane (Annie Parisse).

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