The Elephant and the Butterfly is a French drama film directed by Amélie van Elmbt. The story follows a single mother named Emilie who is struggling to balance her job as a saleswoman with the responsibilities of raising her young daughter, Elsa. When her regular babysitter cancels at the last minute, Emilie is forced to leave Elsa with her estranged father, Marco, whom she hasn't seen in years.
As Emilie heads off on a work trip for the weekend, Elsa and Marco are left to try and reconnect with each other. Despite their initial awkwardness, they slowly begin to bond over their shared love of music and imaginative play. As they spend the weekend exploring their city together, they also come to terms with the reasons that kept them apart for so long.
The Elephant and the Butterfly features stunning performances from its two leads, with Mélanie Laurent playing Emilie and newcomer Mahaut Barthélemy playing Elsa. The film was praised for its subtle storytelling and heartfelt portrayal of the complicated dynamics between parents and children. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017 and has since been released in theaters and on streaming platforms around the world.
