Young Alexei is openly gay. Although his peers have no problem with his sexual orientation, his mother is unable to accept it. Butterflies a documentary portrait follows Alexei during summer break, as he spends time with his new lover Grisha, whom he met at a Tarkovsky festival.

The film takes an unusual observational approach in that the camera is often right up against people’s bodies and faces during impassioned discussions, arguments, or testimony.