Cynthia is a young Chinese woman in love with Itami, a Japanese man about to be sent home for military service.
Director:
Ye LouWriter:
Ye Lou
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Title: Purple Butterfly (2003)
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1 win & 8 nominations.
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Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
| Ziyi Zhang | ... | Cynthia / Ding Hui (as Zhang Ziyi) | |
| Ye Liu | ... | Situ (Szeto) | |
 |
Yuanzheng Feng | ... | Xie Ming |
| Tôru Nakamura | ... | Hidehiko Itami | |
| Bingbing Li | ... | Tang Yiling | |
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Kin Ei | ... | Yamamoto |
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Leni Lan Crazybarby | ... | A zi (as Lan Yan) |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Seiichiro Hashimoto | ... | (as Sciichiro Hashimoto) |
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Felicia Pullam | ... | Russian Prostitute (as Fellicia Pullam) |
| Cheryl Xie | ... | (as Li Xie) | |
| Anlian Yao | |||
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Ding Hui is a member of Purple Butterfly, a powerful resistance group in Japanese occupied Shanghai. An unexpected encounter reunites her with Itami, an ex-lover... and officer with a secret police unit tasked with dismantling Purple Butterfly. Written by Anonymous
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for strong violence and a scene of sexuality | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
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Written by Yao Min (composition), Yan Kuan & Su Wong (lyrics)
Performed by Yao Li
Courtesy of EMI Music Publishing Hong Kong
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Did You Know?
Soundtracks
Could Not Get Your LoveWritten by Yao Min (composition), Yan Kuan & Su Wong (lyrics)
Performed by Yao Li
Courtesy of EMI Music Publishing Hong Kong
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Details
Release Date:
17 September 2004 (Greece) See more »Also Known As:
紫蝴蝶 See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$6,970, 28 November 2004Gross USA:
$17,790Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$17,790Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
While the story might give one an eye sore and a headache having to keep up with the multiple characters in the storyline, there is an air of independent film-making that transcends the film's confusion. One should also note how excellent the camera-work is for those who enjoy the Italian Neo-realist films of the 1940's and 50's.
This film is perhaps one of the most interesting of films on Chinese history told from the perspective of the Chinese themselves. The background, actors, crowded train stations and gunfights, would seem difficult to recreate in an independent film. However, the director succeeds in creating 1930's Japanese occupied Shanghai and how war affects those who are involved, both politically & non-politically. For anyone who hasn't seen a film from China other than the heavily laden Kung Fu movies made here in the U.S., Purple Butterfly is both a refresher and an excellent look at Neo-Realism in Chinese Cinema today.