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M. Butterfly

  • 19931993
  • 1515
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
M. Butterfly (1993)
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.
Play trailer1:51
1 Video
60 Photos
DramaRomance

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writer
    • David Henry Hwang
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • John Lone
    • Barbara Sukowa
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Cronenberg
  • Writer
    • David Henry Hwang
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • John Lone
    • Barbara Sukowa
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 31Critic reviews
    • 43Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:51
    Official Trailer

    Photos60

    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)
    M. Butterfly (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • René Gallimardas René Gallimard
    John Lone
    John Lone
    • Song Lilingas Song Liling
    Barbara Sukowa
    Barbara Sukowa
    • Jeanne Gallimardas Jeanne Gallimard
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Ambassador Toulonas Ambassador Toulon
    Annabel Leventon
    Annabel Leventon
    • Frau Badenas Frau Baden
    Shizuko Hoshi
    • Comrade Chinas Comrade Chin
    Richard McMillan
    Richard McMillan
    • Embassy Colleagueas Embassy Colleague
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    • Agent Etancelinas Agent Etancelin
    David Hemblen
    David Hemblen
    • Intelligence Officer #1as Intelligence Officer #1
    Damir Andrei
    • Intelligence Officer #2as Intelligence Officer #2
    Antony Parr
    • Intelligence Officer #3as Intelligence Officer #3
    Margaret Ma
    • Song's Maidas Song's Maid
    Tristram Jellinek
    • Defense Attorneyas Defense Attorney
    Philip McGough
    • Prosecution Attorneyas Prosecution Attorney
    David Neal
    David Neal
    • Judgeas Judge
    Sean Hewitt
    Sean Hewitt
    • Ambassador's Aideas Ambassador's Aide
    Peter Messaline
    • Diplomat at Partyas Diplomat at Party
    Michael Mehlmann
    Michael Mehlmann
    • Drunk in Paris Baras Drunk in Paris Bar
    • Director
      • David Cronenberg
    • Writer
      • David Henry Hwang(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    During the Cultural Revolution in China in the mid-1960s, a French diplomat falls in love with a singer in the Beijing Opera. Interwoven with allusions to the Puccini opera "Madama Butterfly", a story of love and betrayal unfolds. —Michael C. Berch <mcb@postmodern.com>
    female nuditytopless female nudityanimal in titlebloodtimeframe 1960s21 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • 15
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      David Cronenberg loved the play so much that when he heard a movie was being made about it, he volunteered immediately to direct it.
    • Goofs
      The word accordion is misspelled "accordian" in the closing credits.
    • Quotes

      Song Liling: The days I spent with you were the only days I ever truly existed.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Malice/Cool Runnings/Short Cuts/M. Butterfly/For Love or Money (1993)

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Enigmatic Scorcher and FASCINATING!
    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.
    helpful•44
    7
    • sagg928
    • Nov 12, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 6, 1994 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • English
      • Chinese
      • French
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • 蝴蝶君
    • Filming locations
      • Great Wall of China, China
    • Production company
      • Geffen Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,498,795
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $57,280
      • Oct 3, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,498,795
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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