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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsM. Butterfly (1993) More at IMDbPro »
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
David Henry Hwang (play)
David Henry Hwang (screenplay)
Release Date:
1 October 1993 (USA) 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
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
TheatreWorks Presents Regional Premiere Of Yellow Face 8/26-9/20
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 22 July 2009, 1:23 AM, PDT)
DVD: Review: Fast Company / M. Butterfly
(From The AV Club. 16 June 2009, 10:01 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
A flawed but fascinating film. 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 |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for sexuality and a brief bloody sequence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Iceland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Peter Weir passed on the chance to direct. more
Quotes:
Ambassador Toulon: You said the Americans would succeed in Vietnam. You were kidding, right? 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.more (27 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for M. Butterfly (1993) moreRecommendations
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Of all the David Cronenberg movies I have seen 'M. Butterfly' is my least favourite, but that's certainly not to say that it is entirely worthless. Despite some flaws and a few dead spots it is still quite a fascinating film. One of the oddest things about this movie is that despite its general feeling of unbelievability it is based on a true story. Cronenberg adds to this by deliberately casting the rather butch John Lone, rather than a more obviously androgynous actor (ala 'The Crying Game', a movie this is often compared to). This makes the story more confronting and less comfortable, and also one assumes, closer to the actual facts of the case. Jeremy Irons, who was robbed of an Oscar in Cronenberg's previous 'Dead Ringers', is outstanding as usual, Lone (still mainly known for 'The Last Emperor') isn't as good, but still fine, and the supporting cast includes a nice turn from Brit veteran Ian Richardson ('Dark City'). Most Cronenberg fans will probably find this a bit difficult to get into, as the material isn't exactly typical of the director, but it's much better than its bad press makes out. I expected to hate it, and I didn't.