The film follows parents waiting outside of a school for their children on a seemingly normal day. Mark, an arrogant father (Miguel Belmonte), boasts to another parent, Carlos (Rocco Salata), about how smart and beautiful his daughter is. As he brags, a butterfly mysteriously lands on his shoulder. To him, he sees this delicate creature as a gift for his daughter. It all seems perfect until he breaks its wing. He disregards the creature arrogantly until a swarm of butterflies flies outside the doors. Initially, the parents are confused and scared. Carlos and the other parents soon realize the butterflies are their children. Will Mark realize what is actually going on? Adrian Carey delivers a poignant film with minimal dialogue. Miguel Belmonte delivers a strong performance as Mark. His ability to switch from charismatic to distraught is convincing. Carey gives him several close-ups that reveal the many layers of his personality. The special effects on the butterflies are seamless. When watching the film, the creatures are animated in a realistic style. It works incredibly due to the mix of CGI and practical effects. Rocco Salata also steals the film in his brief scenes as Carlos. He wears sunglasses for the entirety of the short’s brief runtime, yet his body language is subtle with naturalistic hand gestures. This is an artsy film that can still be applicable to a mainstream audience. Parents will find the story relatable and get an emotional reaction out of it.
