IMDb > M. Butterfly (1993)
M. Butterfly
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

M. Butterfly (1993) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
M. Butterfly (1993) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   3,038 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers (WGA):

David Henry Hwang (play)
David Henry Hwang (screenplay)

Contact:

View company contact information for M. Butterfly on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

1 October 1993 (USA) more

Genre:

Drama | Romance more

Plot:

In 1960s China, French diplomat Rene Gallimard falls in love with an opera singer, Song Liling - but Song is not at all who Gallimard thinks. full summary | add synopsis

Awards:

1 win more

User Comments:

Enigmatic Scorcher and FASCINATING! more (27 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jeremy Irons ... René Gallimard
John Lone ... Song Liling

Barbara Sukowa ... Jeanne Gallimard
Ian Richardson ... Ambassador Toulon
Annabel Leventon ... Frau Baden
Shizuko Hoshi ... Comrade Chin
Richard McMillan ... Embassy Colleague

Vernon Dobtcheff ... Agent Etancelin
David Hemblen ... Intelligence Officer #1
Damir Andrei ... Intelligence Officer #2
Antony Parr ... Intelligence Officer #3
Margaret Ma ... Song's Maid
Tristram Jellinek ... Defense attorney
Philip McGough ... Prosecution attorney
David Neal ... Judge
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and a brief bloody sequence.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Peter Weir passed on the chance to direct. more

Quotes:

Rene Gallimard: You made me see the beauty of the story, of her death. It's, it's pure sacrifice. He's not worthy of it, but what can she do? She loves him so much. It's very beautiful.
Song Liling: Well, yes, to a Westerner.
Rene Gallimard: I beg your pardon?
Song Liling: It's one of your favorite fantasies, isn't it? The submissive Oriental woman and the cruel white man.
more

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of David Cronenberg (#1.10)" (1999) more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
18 out of 30 people found the following comment useful.
Enigmatic Scorcher and FASCINATING!, 12 November 2005
9/10
Author: sagg928 from California

Jeremy Irons and John Lone (who plays the character, Song Liling) should both have gotten academy awards for their performance in this incredibly enigmatic and captivating scorcher of a movie. This is a completely new twist on on the classic opera and may even be more of a believable story because it is so creatively wicked. It has a sexual tension that holds throughout the whole movie and is entirely played out in the mind and sensuously mesmerizing at the same time.

It's an emotionally tortuous journey that Jeremy Irons makes in the name of love (?), and more likely addicted passion. John Lone's performance is exceptional as one who is just as driven and hooked psychologically in his own way as what it is in him that drives him to fulfill Jeremy's ecstasy and descent into irretrievable madness.

Definitely one of the best movies ever! I hope this makes it to DVD sometime soon as it surely deserves to be seen again and again.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (27 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for M. Butterfly (1993)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
DVD Release set for May oneblood
John Lone kzaluska
The real 'Song Liling' passes away in Paris at 70. pingvuiini
Did Song care for Gallimard at all? Pearl_Jade
What about the baby???? (spoiler) mario_braner
Unclear on the reason for posing as a woman Pearl_Jade
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Stonewall Die Stille nach dem Schuß El diputado Vatel The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.