Spinning into Butter (film)

Spinning into Butter is a 2007 American independent drama film directed by Mark Brokaw, based on the 1999 play of the same name by Rebecca Gilman. The film stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Beau Bridges, and Taye Diggs.

The story centers around Sarah Daniels (Parker), the dean of students at a predominantly white, prestigious liberal arts college in Vermont. A series of racist anonymous notes are posted on campus, causing a campus-wide uproar and forcing the college to confront its issues with diversity and racial prejudice. Sarah, determined to address the situation proactively, organizes discussions and seeks to understand the underlying causes of the incidents.

As Sarah delves deeper into the matter, she grapples with her own preconceptions and biases. She finds herself increasingly under pressure from the college administration, students, and the media to resolve the situation quickly and decisively. The film explores themes of political correctness, racial identity, guilt, and the complexities of communication in a diverse society. The title, "Spinning into Butter," refers to an old folktale about a man who survives falling into a vat of cream by churning it into butter; it serves as a metaphor for the characters' attempts to navigate a difficult and messy situation by rationalizing and manipulating their narratives.

The film adaptation was met with mixed reviews, with some critics praising the performances and the exploration of relevant social issues, while others criticized the screenplay for being heavy-handed and lacking the nuance of the original play.