Cute as a cupcake and as sweet as one, BUTTERCREAM is a deliciously appealing confection from writer, producer, actor Ruby Busuttil.
BUTTERCREAM follows a young Maltese woman, Rose, as she navigates her irreparable grief for her Nanna, Marija, all the while navigating her first queer experience.
The film opens with Rose as a child being taught culinary skills by her grandmother, a binding experience of generational love and the continuance of culture.
After Marija’s death, the adult Rose assumes her identity, even donning her dress and continues her Nanna’s legacy by making cupcakes following the recipe lovingly passed down and sells the delicacies to a local store.
Unexpectedly, the shop changes hands and the new proprietor, Clara, has an astonishing effect on Rose, a lightning bolt realisation of love at first sight, a feeling reciprocated by Clara.
But old values of Catholic culture risk the burgeoning of this romance and puts the fledgling relationship in peril.
BUTTERCREAM has all the ingredients of a successful romantic comedy/drama. Busuttil’s screenplay is simple and succinct but with surprising range, contours and layers and her performance as Rose reflects that range of churning emotions, of grief, guilt, loss and love.
She is matched in the acting stakes by Georgia McGinness as Clara, an enchanting performance that relays in an instant Rose’s attraction.
BUTTERCREAM marks the screen directorial debut of Lauren Bennett and it’s an assured entrée.
Impressive technicolor cinematography by Venus Oh and editing by Sally Broad is the icing and cherries on top.
It’s well worth keeping an eye out for BUTTERCREAM, bite size but satisfying, a short film that goes big and hits home.
