In apartheid-torn South Africa, poet Ingrid Jonker struggles tragically in search of love and a sense of home.
Director:
Paula van der OestWriter:
Greg Latter
From metacritic.com
Can't get enough of movies and television shows that scare up a good fright? Check out Scary Good, IMDb's Horror Entertainment Guide. Being terrified was never so much fun.
Related News
South Africa, Netherlands Ink Co-Production Pact
11 December 2015 6:02 PM, +01:00 | Variety - Film News
11 December 2015 6:02 PM, +01:00 | Variety - Film News
‘Game of Thrones’ Star Carice Van Houten Joins Aaron Paul in ‘The Parts You Lose’
6 November 2015 2:00 AM, +01:00 | The Wrap
6 November 2015 2:00 AM, +01:00 | The Wrap
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Connect with IMDb
Share this Rating
Title: Black Butterflies (2011)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
7 wins & 3 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
The Happy Housewife
(2010)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Antoinette Beumer
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Waldemar Torenstra,
Marcel Hensema
Love Life
(2009)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Reinout Oerlemans
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Barry Atsma,
Anna Drijver
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Antoinette Beumer
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Jelka van Houten,
Holly Hunter
Family Way
(2012)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Joram Lürsen
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Thijs Römer,
Benja Bruijning
A Thousand Kisses
(2006)
Comedy
|
Drama
Director:
Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen
Stars:
Tijn Docter,
Carice van Houten,
Catherine ten Bruggencate
Love is All
(2007)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Joram Lürsen
Stars:
Michiel Romeyn,
Thomas Acda,
Anneke Blok
Black Book
(2006)
Drama
|
Thriller
|
War
Director:
Paul Verhoeven
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Sebastian Koch,
Thom Hoffman
Suzy Q
(TV Movie 1999)
Biography
|
Drama
Director:
Martin Koolhoven
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Roeland Fernhout,
Linda van Dyck
The Heineken Kidnapping
(2011)
Crime
|
History
|
Thriller
Director:
Maarten Treurniet
Stars:
Rutger Hauer,
Reinout Scholten van Aschat,
Gijs Naber
Zwarte zwanen
(2005)
Drama
Director:
Colette Bothof
Stars:
Carice van Houten,
Dragan Bakema,
Mohammed Chaara
Father's Affair
(2003)
Drama
Director:
Maarten Treurniet
Stars:
Peter Paul Muller,
Carice van Houten,
Halina Reijn
Documentary
Directors:
Ruben Smit,
Mark Verkerk
Stars:
Harry Piekema
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Carice van Houten | ... | ||
| Liam Cunningham | ... | ||
| Rutger Hauer | ... | ||
 |
Graham Clarke | ... |
Uys Krige
|
| Nicholas Pauling | ... |
Eugene Maritz
|
|
| Candice D'Arcy | ... |
Anna Jonker
|
|
|
|
Ceridwen Morris | ... |
Marjorie
|
| Grant Swanby | ... |
Jan Rabie
|
|
|
|
Waldemar Schultz | ... |
Etienne le Roux
|
|
|
Tarryn Page | ... |
Irma
|
|
|
Louis Pretorius | ... |
Mike Loots
|
| Damon Berry | ... |
Pieter Venter
|
|
|
|
Martinus Van Der Berg | ... |
Marius Schoon
(as Marthinus Van den Berg)
|
|
|
Florence Masebe | ... |
Maria
|
|
|
Jennifer Steyn | ... |
Lucille Jonker (Lulu)
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (3) »
Storyline
She searched for a home, she searched for love. Confronted by Apartheid and a father who was Minister of censorship. With men like Jack Cope and Andre Brink she found much love, but no home. In his first speech to the South African Parliament Nelson Mandela read her poem "The Dead Child of Nyanga" and addresses her as one of the finest poets of South Africa. Written by Anonymous
Plot Keywords:
footsie under the table | female bare foot | female to male foot in crotch |Taglines:
Her words united a whole continent. [Scandinavian DVD.]Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
31 March 2011 (Netherlands) See more »Also Known As:
Borboletas Negras See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
A middle aged writer rescues a young woman from drowning near the shores of South Africa. Although he is much older, they fall in love right there and then and soon some obvious complications ensue. There is hardly a likable or interesting character in this wandering historical drama about the poet Ingrid Jonker (Carice van Houten). It deals primarily with the mentally troubled writer and her precarious relationships with men, including her father (Rutger Hauer) who is a member of the apartheid regime she strongly opposes.
The film never picks up any speed and the absence of a discernible plot line or a compelling narrative makes for a very pallid viewing experience. Hauers script is particularly one-note but the same could be said of van Houten who seemed to be out of her depth in the role of a frustrated and depressed young woman trying to get her voice heard through rebellious poetry. Liam Cunningham fares a lot better as one of the two love interests and produces the only sympathetic character of the film.