M.Butterfly (1993)

Probably one of the most beautiful tragedies I have ever witnessed on the silver screen, M. Butterfly is a story about one Rene Gallimard (Jeremy Irons), who is an accountant turned diplomat that falls madly in love with a Chinese Opera singer Song Liling (John Lone). The opera singer remains mostly unnamed throughout the story, so for the sake of this review, lets call her Butterfly. The story is one of beauty and psychological mystery, starting out as an observation of Western fetishism for the Orient and descending into deceit, love and death. If you have a chance to see this movie via purchase, rent or streaming video (you can watch most of it on YouTUBE apparently), I would suggest you do so.

My thoughts: (Skip to spare yourself the spoilers)
Davin Cronenburg used his director’s guidance to really tug at my emotions with this. Being a heterosexual male, the very thought of “the trap” (our butterfly is really a man) bothered me from the very start. Once Butterfly is introduced via her singing, I immediately took notice to how male she seemed and when the focus was placed on her face I wondered how Rene could be such a fool… but on further reflection, I saw how the beauty of the music, Butterfly’s intelligent banter and the Asian fetish could have made Rene blind. In the end when the big reveal came and a look of both exhaustion and relief was reflected in his face, I realized that maybe he had known for quite some time but chose instead to believe the facade because it made him happy. Still with the knowledge and the shame that came with it, not even love could defeat the feelings of betrayal, stupidity and sadness that eventually consumed him. The monologue and closing scene sealed the entire story up in the most perfect way.

M.Butterfly is based on a true story, the film has a classic feel to it that makes it more of the 1950′s flavor than the 90′s in which it was created. The backdrops and settings were beautiful but never seemed to feel outside of a set, though I place much of that on the feeling of “classic” that dominates it. John Lone is absolutely stellar in his role as the spy and lover to Rene Gallimard, his delivery driving home memorable lines and exchanges throughout the entire movie. From reading my synopsis on it, you may assume or even go into the watching of M.Butterfly with a hate, or disgust for Song but the direction will force you to be empathetic. Jeremy Irons’ Rene is a human being, and a man who drinks, cheats on his wife and enjoys the privilege of being a French bourgeois in poor China. As I have described with preconceived feelings for Song, the same applies to Rene who I started out laughing at.

By the time the final curtain call is made within the general description of this M.Butterfly, I had no hope for the love affair within my mind, nor did I feel happy that the lie was finally revealed. When the two confront each other about the 18 year deceit, I felt sorry for them both but mostly for Rene. The entire movie showed us the intimate side of Rene who never seemed truly happy despite a flourishing career, a good looking wife and the safety of sanctuary within the Chinese walls. When he pushed his way into the arms of Song Liling, we (the audience) finally see him happy, confident and eventually obsessed. To see that man forced to confront with the lie and made to pay the ultimate price for it was nothing short of tragic and depressing. Normally I would laugh at the fetish chasing, adulterer whose love gets misguided into the arms of a gender trap, but somehow Rene got my sympathy throughout the ordeal.

M.Butterfly is an excellent movie that I would suggest to anybody. This is an example of a great story being translated to film in a most convincing and entertaining way. If you are not a fan of Jeremy Irons, and director David Cronenberg, you will be after seeing this.