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M. Butterfly (film)

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This article is about the Cronenberg film. For the 1915 film, see Madame Butterfly (1915 film). For the 1919 film, see Harakiri (1919 film). For the 1932 film, see Madame Butterfly (1932 film). For other uses, see Madame Butterfly (disambiguation).
M. Butterfly
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDavid Cronenberg
Screenplay byDavid Henry Hwang
Produced byGabriella Martinelli
Starring
CinematographyPeter Suschitzky
Edited byRonald Sanders
Music byHoward Shore
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • October 1, 1993 (1993-10-01)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1,498,795

M. Butterfly is a 1993 romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name. The film stars Jeremy Irons and John Lone, with Ian Richardson, Barbara Sukowa, and Annabel Leventon.[1]

Plot

Loosely based on true events (see Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu), the film concerns René Gallimard (Jeremy Irons), a French diplomat assigned to Beijing, China in the 1960s. He becomes infatuated with a Chinese opera performer, Song Liling (John Lone), who spies on him for the Government of the People's Republic of China.

Their affair lasts for 20 years, with Gallimard all the while apparently unaware (or willfully ignorant) of the fact that in traditional Chinese opera, all roles are performed by men. Eventually, Gallimard betrays his country and is tried for treason, which forces him to face the truth about his relationship. Faced with the unbearable truth that his lover is actually male, he himself takes on the role of Butterfly, the woman who died for the sake of an illusory love.

Cast

Themes

One theme of the film (as with the play) is Orientalist stereotypes, but Cronenberg removed many of the political overtones from the story in order to focus more intensely on the relationship between Gallimard and Song. A key line in the film is "Only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act."

Reception

M. Butterfly grossed a mere $1,498,795 in the domestic box office.[2]

The film currently holds a 42% 'Rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[3] It also holds a 43 from Metacritic.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107468/
  2. ^ M. Butterfly at Box Office Mojo
  3. ^ M. Butterfly at Rotten Tomatoes
  4. ^ M. Butterfly at Metacritic
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