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Duck Butter

Duck Butter
John Wesley
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMiguel Arteta
Written by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyHilary Spera
Edited byChris Donlon
Music byKaitlyn Aurelia Smith
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Orchard
Release dates
  • April 20, 2018 (2018-04-20) (Tribeca)
  • April 27, 2018 (2018-04-27) (United States)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,877[2]

Duck Butter is a 2018 American independent film directed by Miguel Arteta, from a screenplay by Arteta and Alia Shawkat. It stars Shawkat, Laia Costa, Mae Whitman, Hong Chau and Kate Berlant.

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, 2018. It was released on April 27, 2018, by The Orchard.

Plot summary

Nima is an actor beginning work on her first major film, directed by Mark and Jay. She struggles to connect with the material, and has a conversation about it with Mark and Jay, who imply that it is due to a lack of vulnerability on her part. After taking a friend to a date at a gay bar, Nima meets Sergio, an esoteric girl who performs a song at the bar. After going home with Sergio and her friends, the two have sex. While discussing relationships, Sergio proposes the idea of spending 24 hours with a person - including having sex once per hour - in order to 'fast forward' a relationship and get to know a person as quickly as possible. Nima is uncomfortable and declines, but continues to be intrigued by the idea the next day after the freedom she felt with Sergio.

Nima receives a call that she has been replaced on the movie. That evening, she spontaneously decides to return to Sergio's house and take her up on her offer. Sergio is reticent, but decides to go through with it after Nima promises not to leave. Over the course of the evening, the two create art, have sex, and discuss their feelings on life, sex, and previous relationships with both men and women. Sergio is more adventurous and unburdened by societal pressures, while Nima struggles with her insecurities. At different points throughout the night she feels excited by Sergio's free spiritedness, but frustrated by her aggressive frankness, both conversationally and sexually.

The two share about their difficult relationships with their mothers. Sergio's mother Susana comes to see her perform in a musical showcase. Nima suggests that they eat breakfast at Nima's house, which was purchased for her by her father. Nima begins to feel friction in the relationship, briefly suffering a panic attack and dealing with Sergio's anxiety about her mother's arrival. While eating, Sergio and Susana have an argument, with Susana criticizing Sergio's artistic integrity. Susana shares her opinions on sex with Nima, claiming that it is more impersonal than love. Sergio is upset after Susana leaves; after Susana returns to retrieve her forgotten iPad, Nima comforts and kisses Sergio while looking at Susana, who silently leaves. Despite this, the relationship between the two remains strained.

Nima suggests that they have group sex with Kathy and Glow, a couple Sergio is friends with. Sergio is upset by the idea but agrees to it. As the four begin kissing, however, Nima becomes overwhelmed by the situation. Despite her asking Kathy and Glow to stay to discuss the situation, they decide to leave. The tension between the two reaches its peak as Nima retreats to the bathroom to be alone. In retaliation, Sergio defecates in a pan, something she used to do to her mother as a child. The two argue, with Sergio criticizing Nima for failing to be honest during their time together. Sergio leaves the house.

At the music showcase, Sergio performs an a capella cover of Elvis Presley's 'Suppose', hearkening back to an argument between her and Nima about cover songs. After spending the evening frightened and annoyed by Sergio's dog, Nima rescues a dog she sees on the street.

Cast

Production

The initial draft of the film, written by Alia Shawkat and Miguel Arteta, the film focused on a male and a female couple over the course of a year-and-a-half. Then it shifted to a male and female couple who decide to have sex every hour on the hour to find intimacy. Shawkat, who was cast in the lead role, met with actors, who were uncomfortable with the idea.[4] The two initially cast Laia Costa, who only agreed to portray a supporting role in the film if she could remain on set during the entire 24-hour shoot. Arteta and Shawkat decided to re-write the role for a woman.[5]

In September 2016, it was announced Shawkat and Costa had been cast in the film, with Arteta directing from a screenplay by him and Shawkat. Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass will serve as producers under their Duplass Brothers Productions banner.[6][7][8][9][10]

Principal photography began in September 2016, over the course of nine days, with majority of the film being shot over the course of 24 hours.[11][12]

Release

In 2018, Variety announced that The Orchard and Netflix would distribute the film.[13] It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 20, 2018.[14] It was released on April 27, 2018.[15]

Critical reception

Duck Butter received mixed reviews from film critics. It holds a 55% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 38 reviews, with an average of 6.1/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Duck Butter has a pair of compelling leads and a refreshing female-driven perspective, but its story is ultimately too thin to support a feature-length production."[16] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 60 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17]

Katie Rife of The A.V. Club gave the film a C+, panning it for not giving Costa's character depth and calling the film "clever without being all that hilarious, and personal without being all that revealing".[18]

Accolades

Year Festival Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 Tribeca Film Festival Best Narrative Feature Miguel Arteta Nominated [19]
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film Alia Shawkat Won [20]

References

  1. ^ "Duck Butter". Tribeca Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "Duck Butter". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  3. ^ Angelina Llongueras' clipping at Art-Management (PDF, in Spanish)
  4. ^ Dry, Jude (April 27, 2018). "Alia Shawkat Made 'Duck Butter' Queer After Male Actors 'Seemed Uncomfortable' With Intimate Sex Scenes". Indiewire.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  5. ^ Song, Sandra (April 27, 2018). "Alia Shawkat Explains The Kind Of Gross Meaning Of "Duck Butter"". Nylon Magazine. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  6. ^ Out & About Events for Women (September 24, 2016). "Below is a casting notice for middle-aged and older lesbians. If you know anyone who fits the bill, please pass the information along". Facebook. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  7. ^ "Speakers". NALIP Media Summit 2018. National Association of Latino Independent Producers. Archived from the original on June 19, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  8. ^ "Get Cast in Duplass Brothers' New Indie Movie with Alia Shawkat". ClaimFame.com. September 26, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ Demaria, Meghan (May 19, 2017). "Alia Shawkat Came Out As Bisexual". Refinery29. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  10. ^ Friedman, Ann (May 13, 2017). "'I'm not a quirky 17-year-old any more': what Arrested Development's Alia Shawkat did next". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  11. ^ Oslend, R. Kurt (May 11, 2017). "Actress Alia Shawkat on Bold Projects, Broad City & Being Queer in America". Out. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  12. ^ Sextro, Chalie (September 15, 2017). "Miguel Arteta on learning how to run a movie set". The Creative Independent. Kickstarter. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  13. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 21, 2018). "Netflix Lands Worldwide Rights to Next Four Duplass Brothers Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  14. ^ Raup, Jordan (March 7, 2018). "Tribeca 2018 Lineup Includes 'Disobedience,' 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post,' 'The Seagull,' and More". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  15. ^ Nolfi, Joey (March 21, 2018). "Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa explore 'messy' love and sex in Duck Butter trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Duck Butter (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  17. ^ "Duck Butter Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  18. ^ Rife, Katie (April 25, 2018). "Alia Shawkat Tries to Fast-Forward Through Courtship in the Hipster Sex Comedy Duck Butter". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  19. ^ Frosch, Jon. "'Duck Butter': Film Review | Tribeca 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "Here are the Winners of the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival Juried Awards | Tribeca". Tribeca Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
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