Poslední motýl (1991)

Stage mime Antoine Moreau (Tom Courtenay) is compelled by the Gestapo to put on a performance for the children of Terezin, a "model" concentration camp, to convince the Red Cross observers ... See full summary »

Director:

Karel Kachyna

Writers:

Ota Hofman, Michael Jacot (story),

Stars:

Tom Courtenay, Brigitte Fossey, Ingrid Held

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Courtenay	...	Antoine Moreau
Brigitte Fossey	...	Vera
Ingrid Held	...	Michele
Freddie Jones	...	Karl Rheinberg
Milan Knazko	...	Gruber
Josef Kemr	...	Stadler
Ludek Kopriva	...	Laub
Pavel Bobek	...	Silberstein
Josef Laufer	...	Petersen
Drahomíra Fialková	...	Stadlerova
Rudolf Pellar	...	Leroux
Jirí Lír	...	Steiner
Hana Hegerová	...	Singer in the Ghetto
Jitka Molavcová	...	Gruber's Secretary
Linda Jablonská	...	Stella

Storyline

Stage mime Antoine Moreau (Tom Courtenay) is compelled by the Gestapo to put on a performance for the children of Terezin, a "model" concentration camp, to convince the Red Cross observers that the camp is truly what it seems. Reluctant at first, Moreau slowly learns the true nature of the camp, including the meaning of the "transports" on which people leave. With a world-class orchestra (made up of people interned in the camp) and a cast of children, Moreau stages a show to end all shows.

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Plot Keywords:

children | orchestra | red cross | gestapo | mime | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements

Details

Country:

Czechoslovakia France UK

Language:

Czech English

Release Date:

1 January 1991 (Czechoslovakia)

Also Known As:

The Last Butterfly

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atlantique Productions, Filmové studio Barrandov, HTV International Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 106 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Black and White (end sequence) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Laub: Look, all your props. I told you we'd find them. Things don't disappear here; people do.

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Soundtracks

"Ocarina Solo"
Written by Milan Svoboda

User Reviews

The Last Butterfly is brilliant

This is the ONLY Holocaust film that is neither maudlin nor sensational but that delivers a punch with all the impact of a Hollywood blockbuster, but none of the glitz. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a foreign film (made before Czechoslovakia had been divided in two). It doesn't have that "dubbed" quality of a lot of foreign, English-language films. The acting, direction (and a wonderfully moving score that tracks the story line)and script are all synchronized in a stunning style. In fact, the European element helps to make it far more genuine than anything that's come out of Hollywood. One gets a sense that the filmakers and the actors were really plugged in to the history of what is, after all, a real story--that of the Nazi's "City of the Jews." This was a ruse of the Nazis to "prove" to the international community that they were taking care of "their" Jews by keeping them camped in segregated communities that had all the comforts of home. Of course, in reality, there was a back door track to the concentration camps that visitors were never shown.

But again, what makes this film so special is its avoidance of any pretense. The film makers don't milk the tragedy any more than it has to be. And the evil characters are not stereotyped into cardboard cut outs. And the heroes--well, there really are none, despite some heroic acts by normal folks.

Buy this film if you can. You'll want to pass it on to your kids.