''Steel Butterfly'' () is a 2012 Russian

crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

directed by

Renat Davletyarov Renat Favarisovich Davletyarov (; born August 17, 1961, Astrakhan, USSR) is a Russian film director, film producer and screenwriter. President of the Guild of Producers of Russia. Biography Davletyarov was born to a Tatars, Tatar father and Russ ...

. Runaway street children led by Chuma rob various people in order to survive. Suddenly they are caught by the police and now Chuma is forced to become the bait for a serial killer.

Plot

In Moscow, teenage runaway Vika Chumakova, known as "Chuma", escapes from a state orphanage and sustains herself through petty crime with a gang of street kids. After they commit a robbery in a park, the group is apprehended by the police, landing Chuma in the precinct where she meets Captain Grigory Khanin. Khanin and his team are investigating a series of brutal murders targeting young girls with artistic ties, all occurring in isolated parts of the same park. Suspecting a serial killer, Khanin devises a plan to use Chuma as bait, promising her freedom if she cooperates but threatening to send her to juvenile detention if she refuses. Chuma agrees, on the condition that she be released until morning and that her confiscated switchblade be returned. Throughout the investigation, she navigates complex relationships with her street friends and manipulates those around her, including Khanin, with flirtations and provocation. As Chuma continues aiding Khanin, their dynamic grows increasingly tense and complicated. She becomes involved in stakeouts, even joining Khanin on an outing where he teaches her to shoot, further blurring their relationship boundaries. However, Chuma’s reckless behavior ultimately jeopardizes the operation when she abandons her distress button and disappears during an active search for the killer. Later, she confronts Khanin’s girlfriend, Tatiana, threatening her with a knife in a jealous rage. When the serial killer strikes again, it’s revealed that a police officer, Tolik, is the perpetrator. Chuma confronts him in a violent encounter, leading to Tolik’s capture. Although her actions aid the investigation, Khanin decides to return Chuma to the orphanage, recognizing her volatile nature. She leaves with an unspoken promise to continue seeking independence, but the final scene hints at her lingering trauma and unresolved darkness as she encounters another young girl in the park, torn between harming her and seeking companionship.

Cast

Darya Melnikova Darya Alekseyevna Melnikova () is a Russian actress in theater, film and television. Biography Darya Melnikova was born in Omsk, Russia. She learned to play the piano at a music school and was involved in ballet. In 2009 from Melnikova was a ...

as Vika Chumakova *

Anatoliy Beliy Anatoliy Aleksandrovich Weissman, known professionally as Anatoliy Aleksandrovich Beliy (born 1 August 1972) is a Soviet Union, Soviet-born Israeli actor. He was awarded the Merited Artist of the Russian Federation in 2006. Biography Anatoliy Be ...

as Grigoriy Khanin *

Darya Moroz Darya Yurievna Moroz (; born 1 September 1983) is a Soviet and Russian film and stage actress, Honored Artist of Russia (2015). She is a two-time winner of the Nika Award (2009, 2015). She is best known for starring in the TV series '' Gold Dig ...

as Tatyana * Pyotr Vins as Kosovskiy * Andrey Kazakov as Zaytsev * Elena Galibina as Tamara Nikolaevna *

Maksim Dromashko Maxim (more accurately spelled Maksim assuming that "X" is not a consonant, but the conjunction of "K" and "S" sounds; “Maksym”, or "Maxym") is an epicene (or gender-neutral) first name of Roman origin mainly given to males. It is adopted in ...

as Tolik * Andrey Lebedev as Bondarev * Konstantin Topolaga as Lieutenant Colonel Timashov * Semyon Treskunov as 'Dwarf'

Awards and nominations

* 2012 – "Avance" Award from The Hollywood Reporter Russia – "Most Promising Actress" (Darya Melnikova) * 2012 – Participation in the competition program of the Spanish film festival Muestra de Cine Europeo Ciudad de Segovia (MUCES) * 2012 – XVIII International Human Rights Film Festival "

Stalker Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance or contact by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring t ...

" – Jury Diploma (Darya Melnikova)

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=2469210 2012 films 2010s Russian films 2010s Russian-language films Films directed by Renat Davletyarov 2012 crime drama films 2010s mystery drama films Russian crime drama films Russian-language crime drama films Russian mystery drama films Biographical films about serial killers