M. Butterfly

Plot synopsis:
Beijing, Red China, 1964. Mild-mannered Rene Gallimard, an accountant at the French embassy, watches captivated as Opera diva Song Liling sings a selection from 'Madame Butterfly'. Afterwards, he tells his wife Jeanne that Song Liling has opened his eyes to the beauty in the tragic tale, but Jeanne pours scorn on his romanticized western ideal of the submissive oriental woman. He tells Jeanne that the Chinese can't stand Madame Butterfly because "the white man gets the girl."Three weeks later, Rene musters the courage to visit the Opera again where he meets Song Liling backstage. Although he and Song only talk, he lies to his wife about his whereabouts. Song next entertains him in her parlor, a potentially scandalous action in a country "rooted 2,000 years in the past". When Rene kisses Song, she looks offended and asks him to leave. At Frau Bauden's party, Rene is accosted by angry embassy employees whose expenses he has refused. Song begins to write letters to Rene which he does not answer.Ambassador Toulon notes Rene's sudden personality change by stating: "you've become this new, aggressive, overconfident thing". He appoints Rene as Vice Consul, in charge of setting up a new intelligence-gathering operation to spy on the current Chinese authorities during Chairman Mao's so-called Cultural Revolution. Rene rushes off to Song, and demands to know if she's his butterfly. She shyly admits she is, although to protect her modesty, she insists on remaining clothed as they make love, watched by the prying eyes of Song's maid. Rene and Song's courtship continues secretly with a trip to the Great Wall.Some time later, the ambassador asks Rene Gallimard's opinion on the current conflict in Vietnam and of China's involvement it for his report. He tells the ambassador that the Americans must show strength, as the Oriental will always bow to a superior force. Song is revealed to be a double agent as she begins to feed Rene misinformation, and relays his comments on American troop movements to local Party official Comrade Chin, who is disgusted to find American movie-star magazines in her parlor. Song counters with saying "I'm trying my best to become somebody else."At another one of Frau Bauden's parties, Rene embarks on an "extra extra-marital affair" with Song. On his next visit to Song, he demands to see her naked. She tells him that she is pregnant and she must go to her parents village, as is the custom, from which she will bring him back a son. He is delighted. Song then goes to her handler, Chin, and requests a male Chinese baby with blond hair as part of her cover.Some months later, Rene Gallimard views a Red Guard demonstration with the burning of opera costumes. The ambassador advises caution, as they have become a powerful movement. Song visits Rene with their "son". He proposes marriage, but she is marched away by Red Guard militia who have declared all artists criminals under the Cultural Revolution. Rene is told by the Chinese authorities that he is being deported back to France for wrongly analyzing the Chinese and Vietnamese political situations. On a last visit, Rene finds Song's courtyard quarters full of peasants. Meanwhile, Song is seen entering a re-education camp, as a loudspeaker voice declares hard labor will transform them into real citizens of the future under the tutelage of Chairman Mao.Paris, France, 1968. Rene is watching a performance of Madame Butterfly at the local opera, where his eyes fill with tears. Outside, Rene runs into a riot where pro-Communist students are attacking the police during the so-called Student Riots. Rene returns to his apartment which the decor is austere of Chinese chic. One day, Song reappears, and Rene is overjoyed to see her again. Rene tells Song that since his dismissal from the diplomatic service, he has been working as a motorcycle courier, carrying diplomatic pouches. Rene is soon arrested by Etancelin, a government agent.Rene is brought on trial for espionage of leaking classified documents during his tenure as Vice Consul in China. During the trial, Rene is confronted by the crushing spectacle when Song Liling shows up to testify against him, and wearing a suit and necktie... unmistakably a man. Much to the court's incredulity, Song testifies how Rene gave him access to the diplomatic pouches to protect their "son" back in China. When the prosecutor asks Song if Rene ever knew that he was in fact a man impersonating a woman, Song speaks about his Oriental ways of love "out of which I invented myself, just for him." In a police van en route to prison, Song confronts Rene and finally disrobes, bitterly reminding Rene that he still is the same person that Rene fell in love with. Rene angrily rejects his advances, destroyed by the revelation of Song's true gender and that what he loved and believed was all a lie.In prison, Rene gives a one-man performance, admitting his story about falling in love with a man whom he thought was a woman, and a spy, had given the whole from France a good laugh. As Song boards a plane back to China, having been extradited, Rene plays an audio tape of Madame Butterfly and relates the tale as if he himself were the tragic oriental woman who loved an unworthy man. In oriental clothes, heavy Chinese makeup and a wig, Rene says that he has found the perfect sacrificial woman, far from China. In front of all the inmates and the warden, he kneels forward and commits suicide by slitting his own throat.

Tags: tragedy

Review:
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.
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.
Jeremy Irons plays the lead role as French diplomat, Phillipe Bouriscot, who falls in love with an absolutely seductive Chinese woman opera singer (John Lone).
The romantic & erotic chemistry between the diplomat & opera singer is a very famous true story written by David Henry Hwang--"Madame Butterfly." There have been numerous stage & screen renditions of the story.I like this (1994) version best because David Cronenberg is undoubtedly the finest director to deal with the most important topic in the story: gender bending.
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).
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').
In 1964, in Beijing, the French Ambassaty accountant René Gallimard (Jeremy Irons) goes to a social event without his wife Jeanne Gallimard (Barbara Sukowa) and meets the opera singer Song Liling (John Lone).
Directed by David Cronemberg, "M Butterfly" is probably one of his best films with an intriguing love story about clash of cultures, having China as background in a troubled revolutionary moment great acting and magnificent cinematography and set decoration.
During the Cultural Revolution in China in the mid-1960s, a French diplomat René Gallimard (a brilliant portrayal by Jeremy Irons) falls in love with a Chinese opera singer Song Liling (John Lone) - women were never allowed to sing in the Beijing Opera so the fact that Song is a man is credible.
In a desperately touching final scene we see the imprisoned René perform the final act from the opera that has accompanied this film - Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY.The story is at once compelling, explosive and slyly humorous, 'a work of unrivaled brilliance, illuminating the conflict between men and women, the differences between East and West, racial stereotypes--and the shadows we cast around our most cherished illusions.' The musical score by Howard Shore integrates arias and choruses from Puccini's opera with music from Chinese opera and his own sensuously beautiful original musical score.
David Cronenberg directs with the tight amount of surreal disbelief the piece needs, but it is the brilliant acting of Jeremy Irons and John Lone that illuminate this film.
I like the two main actors both, who I think had a wonderful performance in this movie( although I keep wondering whether it will be another masterpiece if Leslie Zhang took Chung long's position in this movie.) For those who love this story itself, you will definitely agree how this movie perfectly described a story which tells " only in real life could love become so unreal." Also this is a good movie to watch if you are interested in the type of movie which entangle east and west, love and betrayal, passion and illusion....
In the mid-'60s, while the cultural revolution is going on in China, French Vice Consul Phillipe Bouriscot (Irons) falls in love with a singer, Song (John Lone), who performs with the Bejing opera.
The film doesn't go into how this fantasy was actually executed physically, but in point of fact, in real life, the character played by Irons believed he had gotten Song pregnant.
Odd but true.David Cronenberg does an excellent job with this dark, mysterious film, and the actors are terrific, each character hooked on this fantasy in his own way.
In this movie, however, it slightly misses the true impact of such events Irons has exhibited so well in those other parts, mainly because the final "revelation" actually doesn't happen until after Gallimard's world has already collapsed, with Butterfly's arrest (by the Red Guard, as an artist and thus a criminal) and his own recall to Paris.
It is not important to the movie that Gallimard learn of the true nature of his lover in the court room, so I would have that revelation earlier, thus completing the cycle of destruction we have seen in his life, and also avoiding that impossible ride in the police van near the end of the film.
It's one of the most tragic stories I ever saw in a movie.With a perfect Jeremy Irons in the role of the crazy desperate and betrayed lover.
Anyway, if u like tragedy, even if u hate Cronenberg(I actually love his movies), have to watch this one!.
M.Butterfly was originally written for theater and I was quite intriqued when I saw the movie advertisment, I wanted to know how the story was going to be conveyed because I had a role in a production of M.
I will give credit though to Jeremy Irons, who put on a fabulous performance in the lead role of Rene Gallimard, a French diplomat in Beijing, China in the mid-1960's who becomes entranced by an "actress" named Song Liling, who he meets at the Beijing Opera.
Song was also played quite brilliantly by John Lone (you have to watch the movie to understand that bit of casting) and the chemistry and sexual tension that Irons and Lone managed to create was excellent.Having said that, the movie itself I did not find especially captivating.
The first two-thirds of the movie or so are essentially a rather ho-hum quasi-espionage story, as Gallimard begins to reveal secrets about U.S. plans for Vietnam to Song, who in turn passes them on to the Chinese authorities.
Butterfly, the odd and empty story of a French civil servant agent who falls in love with an opera singer while working in Beijing.
But the real problems stem from the relationship between Rene Gallimard and his lover, Song Liling, which takes an unforeseen turn when you least expect it.This is just one of those films that is flat, dull, unconvincing, and just downright bland.
I started out disliking this film and by the end I didn't like it any more than I had before, but I wanted it to be so much better and I longed for it to be more emotionally engaging in order to achieve the full affect which this story has the potential to do.
He falls for Chinese opera singer Song Liling (John Lone) as she performs Madam Butterfly.
This film tells the story of a French diplomat, who falls in love with a mysterious Chinese opera singer.The story is chronologically told, with little surprises.
I can't understand how the play won a Tony, unless it was much better than this film adaptation.It's the story of a man who loves a woman who is really a man.
At first sight,"M.Butterfly seems like an anomaly in Cronenberg's production.Apparently it's not a horror and fantasy film.It would rather be some lost fifties or sixties melodramas,the likes of "sayonara" or "Suzie Wong".But futher acquaintance demonstrates that:we do not deal with a realist movie.IT's really a cronenbergesque work,as weird ,as frightening as "dead ringers " or "the fly".The world that the director depicts is a complete studio creation with extravagant settings:what can we say about the French police van (where anything can happen!!),the French jail ,and the May 68 events?About this two-bit China where everybody speaks English,even the Chinese between them?René Gallimard ,for a French ,it sounds like an editor's name ,but Jeremy Irons does not seem French ,to the slightest extent.Neither does the ambassador and the whole staff.But all this is voluntary:the story is as unbelievable as the other Cronenberg's creations,so the treatment is thoroughly appropriate.Content and form walk hand in hand.However,I 'm compelled to deflate all this a bit:the unexpected twist,so to speak,-check the title- recalls that of Neil Jordan's movie(1992) which I mention in the title of my comment,and "recalls" is an euphemism!Hats off,nevertheless ,to Jeremy Irons,for the extraordinary final,and to John Lone,who reiterates Jaye Davidson's feat,even if Neil Jordan's work is ,IMHO,much better than Cronenberg's extravaganza..
It presents its characters not as good or bad; it's not interested in judging or condemning; it is a film which desires to take you deep into the world of an enchanted and tortured man: Rene Gallimard.
So what?" It's a very distasteful, unpleasant, and rather cruel story, with dialogue that is dotted with sarcastic wisecracks, and no particular theme lends the story any sort of framework or structure that justifies the emotional investment we're supposed to make in the longing of the protagonist.Among the other comments, I've come across some assurances that the stage play was far superior; I have my doubts about that, since I cannot think of very much that would redeem the story.And so, if you're a fan of Jeremy Irons (as I am), and love seeing him even in a script that leaves you feeling as if you feasted on potato chips and gumdrops, then indulge yourself.
Basic gist, a diplomat (Irons) is obsessed with the local opera in 1940s China, and falls head over heels for a lead singer (Lone), believing him to be a woman due to ignorance of the gender roles in Chinese theatre.
It's a combination of great make-up work and Lone's rather underrated skill to fully embrace the mannerisms of his role (see my praise of his work on 'Iceman' for more), playing up the submissive and ethereal qualities often tied to Oriental women, that make this performance so effective.Everything else is par for the course: Cronenburg is a slick director and keeps the film trundling along at a good pace, the production values are lovely and give you the full scope of a changing China, and Howard Shore's score is suitably moving yet also enigmatic and does incorporate Puccini's 'Madam Butterfly' in at points, mainly towards the end.
In 1960s China, French diplomat Rene Gallimard (Jeremy Irons) falls in love with an opera singer, Song Liling (J.
I do not wish to make any political remarks, but this film was layered very well -- the Madam Butterfly aspect had at least three parallels.Jeremy Irons is excellent, and it is nice to see him reuniting with Cronenberg.
He goes to see the famous Chinese opera Madam Butterfly and instantly falls in love with the woman playing the lead roll.
It's a good movie ,in my opinion as a Chinese girl,though there are some obvious ridiculous errors.I have not seen any intro about this film before my watching,neither a poster.I found it because I like the opera of Butterfly and I mistook it as the adaption of the famous opera.At the beginning of the movie,I was so confused that when Gallimard fell in love with Song-because,it's very apparent that the "actress" of Song was a male guy!And,from a Chinese view,John Lone was too stocky to play the role of a eastern girl.-If a Chinese girl was like that in appearance ,she will be the butt of others.However,anyway,John Lone was so great an actor.His appearance has no similarity with a girl,but his manners, expressions,and tone are very very similar to a Asian felmale.Can't believe it.About the story of the film,I have little to think.Anyway,it's a novel that a child how to make and ruin a colorful bubble.All of us have to experience some destroyings of good dreams.The story was only one of them .Many of us think we found the one of ideal,but it turns to be a joke in the end.It's life.The great value of the movie ,I think ,is that it showed what a big gap between the different group of people exists in this world.Over several centuries,western people were imagining the scence of the mysterious ancient east,including the people there.However,...it's hard for a west to penetrate the east...I think.There are too much imposed on an east person,including man ,and woman..
"Plot" (may contain spoilers) René Gallimard (Jeremy Irons),is a diplomat working for the French Embassy in Beijing 1964.
When he goes to a performance of Puccini's Madame Butterfly performed by the outspoken and exotic singer Song Liling (John Lone), (who is actually a man masquerading as a woman) he is the witness of himself falling in love with "her".
Unfortunately in 1993's M Butterfly, his attempt to play things straight leaves the film distant and lackluster.Based on a play of the same name, the film explores the real life relationship between a Beijing opera star posing as a woman (John Lone), and the French consulate officer (Jeremy Irons) that loves her for 20 years without discovering that she's actually a man.
This is partly because helpful subtext and motivation are frequently removed in the more "obvious" medium, and occasionally the writer actually even removes important subplots feeling them less essential with the viewer distracted by all the "real world" visuals on the big or small screen.This was even more true in the superior film of Michael Frayne's COPENHAGEN where the original staging gave the viewer a second layer of meaning with the actors acting out the "chaos theories" which were the underpinnings of the play - giving the audience an essential understanding of the physics the movie's historically accurate sets couldn't - but in losing the vast sweep of the red ramp circling the stage in M.
Moving the final confrontation between the leads from Gallimard's acknowledged imagination to the literal back of a police wagon removes any believability, impact or magic.Even worse, the casting of the two leads seriously undercuts the author's efforts by giving us *not* a plodding diplomat who might conceivably not consider himself a sexual catch (John Lithgow in the original) but a prissy Jeremy Irons as Gallimard (wonderful actor in other roles) more in BRIDESHEAD REVISITED mode from 12 years earlier, where we question his very heterosexuality from the beginning.Whether it is John Lone's fault as "Song" or director David Cronenberg's in his filming of the character, but ALL surprise in the role is removed (tellingly, in every stage production the role is billed only using the first INITIAL of the actor playing it).
Hwang kept the structure of his story but eliminated the illusion which made it believable and the surprise which justified the structure.All that said, if you DON'T know the story and the first telling, the elaborate settings and supporting cast (occasionally distorting in themselves with the casting of brilliant scene-stealers like Ian Richardson as the Ambassador) give an interesting visual picture of China just at the cusp of Mao's late-life destructive "Cultural Revolution" from a ground level perspective - the literal aspects of which were an essential plot point but more subtly finessed on stage.Curiously, SHOWING the reality of the revolution and "re-education" camps makes the credibility of the "Paris" portion of the story almost non-existent, and the one area there the tools of FILM making could have improved the story, showing how Song and Gallimard were exposed, is ignored entirely.M. BUTTERFLY isn't the first film which didn't understand or support the genre of its source (think Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE which tried to make a horror-thriller out of a sci-fi mystery), and it won't be the last.
The first time i saw M.Butterfly i thought it is not a typical Cronenberg's movie.
The second time, i saw i feel like it's definitely a Cronenberg movie, not about the body deformations but about the emotional deformations.
During the Cultural Revolution in China in the mid-1960s, a French diplomat falls in love with a singer in the Beijing Opera.
I have been watching the movies of David Cronenberg--considered a cold emotionless director ( Some what true but I basically disagree) He has made some of the most emotionally devastating films I've ever seen, from the romantic tragedy of The Fly to the human wreckage of Crash & Spider & the heartbreaking Dead Ringers.
Covering almost twenty years in the life of a tawdry French diplomat (Jeremy Irons), the story of M.
After seeing a lead performer (John Lone) in Puccini's Madame Butterfly, the diplomat falls in love with the star singer.
Inspired by the true story of a French diplomat in China during the 1960s who conducted an 18-year affair with a native man he always thought was a woman & who was later convicted of espionage, Film worked onstage because the plot device worked due to the distance created by the theatrical setting so the audience could accept the rather far-fetched premise.
Now I know Jeremy Irons loves to do such movies, but I wonder if he knew it was gonna turn into a disaster?
The cinematography of the movie is dark, still - reflective of the forbidden love between the French diplomat and the Chinese opera singer.
I was just 13 years old then, but already loved Cronenberg films.
We know that in the real case the film was based on, the Rene Gallimard person was a bisexual man, which is very telling.
Butterfly" stars Jeremy Irons as Rene Gallimard, a French diplomat who falls in love with Song Liling, a Chinese spy and opera performer.
This isn't a horror film you see, although it does share some similarities with Cronenberg's other work; the main link here is Jeremy Irons, who was so good in Cronenberg's DEAD RINGERS, and once again tugs at the heartstrings here with his superb, haunted performance of a man unable to resist his feelings and unable to think straight in the face of confusion and betrayal.The photography is colourful and beautiful, bringing out the life and atmosphere of the '60s China setting.
The ending isn't based on fact, but it moves the film into tragedy, which is where Cronenberg works best.
M. BUTTERFLY is worth a look for Cronenberg fans and film viewers in general, as being one of the most compelling character dramas of the '90s..