Float Like a Butterfly is a 2018 Irish drama film directed by Carmel Winters. It tells the story of Frances, a young Irish Traveller girl who dreams of becoming a boxer like her hero, Muhammad Ali.
Frances lives with her mother, siblings and her grandmother, who tells her stories about the Traveller way of life. Frances' father, Michael, has just been released from prison and returns home to find that his daughter is training to become a boxer. He disapproves of this and wants her to focus on more traditional female roles.
Despite her father's objections, Frances continues to train with the help of an ex-boxer named Liam. She has a natural talent for boxing and soon begins to win competitions. Her hard work and determination inspire those around her, but also bring her into conflict with the local community who are not used to seeing girls in the ring.
As Frances gets closer to her dream of becoming a professional boxer, she also discovers some secrets about her family and past. She must confront them in order to move forward with her life.
Float Like a Butterfly is a powerful film about family, identity, and pursuing your dreams in the face of cultural expectations. It has won numerous awards at film festivals and has been praised for its authentic representation of the Traveller community in Ireland.
