Inga Lindström: Schmetterlinge im Bauch (2022)

It seems rather strange when Liv takes the ferry to another island, since Love and his cousin Karl are aboard too, carrying the urn of King Gustav—their grandfather’s dog. They have been tasked with laying the dog to rest at sea at a precisely specified time and place. Afterward, Love helps Liv set up the traps she plans to use to prove that tiger mosquitoes have existed in Sweden. She studies entomology at Linköping University. At the research station, she meets Professor Sandberger, who tells her that a doctoral position has been created for her at his institute. This means, however, that she must finish her master’s thesis in three weeks. Liv’s somewhat chaotic sister Smilla works at a café, but loses her job because she has overslept yet again and arrived late for work. Love and Karl receive two tasks from their grandfather’s lawyer, which they must complete within two weeks in order to inherit his estate. Liv visits her aunt Inga at the care home. Inga has been disabled since birth and lives in the past. When Love drops by to tell Liv about his task, Smilla bursts in and throws everything into disarray. While Liv wants to discuss his grandfather’s butterfly collection with him, Smilla openly flirts with him. The next day, Love shows them the treasures, and Liv points out that his grandfather bred butterflies illegally. Love sees it differently: he believes his grandfather saved endangered species. Liv, however, thinks she cannot help him. When they return home, Liv’s boyfriend, Per, is already waiting for her. He has a surprise for her: he wants to propose. At her sister’s urging, Liv says yes. Karl wants to sell their grandfather’s house so he can complete his task, but Love is not at all happy about it. The disagreement turns into a scuffle. Smilla wants to visit Love and pretends to Karl that she is a butterfly researcher. When she doesn’t find him there, she leaves, but loses Liv’s engagement ring, which she had with her. Meanwhile, Love visits Liv to persuade her to take over the house with him. That evening, Smilla has cooked and wants Liv to visit Per so she can be alone with Love. Liv realizes that Smilla has lost her ring. Liv goes to the university to collect some papers and runs into her professor, who is unhappy with the progress of her work. Smilla tries to get close to Love, but he turns her down. When Liv returns the next morning, she finds Love in her bed. He has definitely had too much to drink, but is sure that nothing else happened. To be on the safe side, he asks Smilla, who reacts strangely. Liv is interested in Love’s grandfather’s butterfly chrysalises, and Love tells her that he brought them back from abroad. She has found specimens of species that have been extinct in Sweden for some time. Smilla tells Liv that she had a wonderful night, which leaves Liv quite disturbed. Karl and Love have an appointment with the lawyer. Karl has already completed his task, but Love is not yet finished. The two argue again. Karl gives Love Liv’s ring; he found it and thinks it belongs to Smilla. Smilla visits her parents’ grave and meets her aunt Inga there, whom she has never known about before. Love returns the ring to Liv and tells her to give it to Smilla. Liv explains that it is her engagement ring. Smilla asks Liv whether she knew they had an aunt, and Liv says she did. This makes Smilla so furious that she runs off. Love comforts Liv and kisses her. Smilla decides to move in with Aunt Inga. Per comes by to tell the sisters that he has found a nursing-assistant training position for Smilla, but she wants nothing to do with it. Love asks Liv why she stands up for her sister so much, despite everything. Liv explains what happened during their childhood and says she feels responsible for Smilla. He also learns that Smilla was responsible for Liv and Per getting together, because she signed Liv up on a dating site. Liv finds the urn, which has washed ashore by the lake, and takes it back. Love goes to see Liv at the research station. They grow closer and sleep together. Smilla shows up and finds them in bed. She makes a scene. Professor Sandberger also comes by and demands that Liv finally submit the rest of her master’s thesis. Then Karl and the lawyer arrive too, and the situation escalates. Liv loses her job at the university, and Karl is disappointed in Love for making false promises. Liv goes back to Per. Love gives up and tells Karl that he can do what he wants with their grandfather’s inheritance. He no longer wants to fight. Smilla has found a job at the care home and is glad that Karl is there too. Liv talks with Per about how she has always done everything for other people and never looked after herself, so she breaks up with him. She goes to the university to see Professor Sandberger and asks for a second chance. She wants to work on a new topic, and he agrees. Afterward, she visits her aunt and brings her their mother’s diary, which proves that their mother loved her sister. Liv goes to the cemetery and meets Smilla there. Smilla confesses that she has fallen in love with Karl. The sisters forgive each other for their failings and reconcile. Liv goes to Love to tell him that she wants to continue his grandfather’s work and that she has fallen in love with him.