Butterfly (2025)

This short animated film is nominated for the 2026 Academy Award in that category. It depicts the life of Jewish French swimmer Alfred Nakache, who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Nazi Germany. It begins peacefully enough. In the sea, a man swims. It is quite beautiful at first. But as he continues, memories come to the surface. From his early childhood to his life as a man, all his memories are linked to water. Some are happy, some glorious, some traumatic. This story will be that of his last swim. It will take us from the source to the river — from the waters of childhood pools to those of swimming pools — from a North African country to the shores of the Mediterranean in France — from Olympic stadiums to water retention basins — from concentration camp to the dream beaches of Reunion. He experiences glory and humiliation. The joy is from his love of swimming--the butterfly stroke--and he is denigrated for his religion and the color of his skin. It could not come at a better time, when the United States government is killing people based on the color of their skin. Again.