Barry Keoghan Leads 'Butterfly Jam' at Cannes as He Films 4-Part Beatles Saga

5 articles · Updated · Deadline · May 13

Directors’ Fortnight will open with Butterfly Jam, with Barry Keoghan returning to Cannes as the father in Kantemir Balagov’s English-language debut.
Keoghan described the film as a family drama centered on a Circassian father-son relationship in New Jersey, with Riley Keough playing his sister and exteriors shot in the state after production in France.
Wolfcub Productions, Keoghan’s company, takes its first feature credit on the film, which he called a milestone as the company also develops a Netflix TV series and two other projects.
On a break from shooting, Keoghan said Sam Mendes’ four-film Beatles project is giving him room to dig deeply into Ringo Starr, though he declined to say whether he will return as the Joker in The Batman: Part II.

Why did Barry Keoghan's ambitious production debut, *Butterfly Jam*, receive such harsh reviews at its Cannes premiere?

Does *Butterfly Jam*'s poor reception prove cultural authenticity can't save a film with a weak story?