M. Butterfly (film)

M. Butterfly is a 1993 film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay is by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name. Jeremy Irons and John Lone star.

Related Topics:
David Cronenberg - David Henry Hwang - Play of the same name - Jeremy Irons - John Lone

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Loosely based on true events, the movie concerns René Gallimard, a French diplomat (Irons) assigned to Beijing, China in the 1960s. He becomes infatuated with a Chinese opera performer, Song (Lone), who plies him for government information under orders from the Chinese government. The diplomat's affair lasts for several years, all the while apparently unaware (or wilfully ignorant) of the fact that in traditional Chinese opera, all roles are performed by men. Eventually, Gallimard betrays his country and is tried for treason, which forces him to face the truth about his relationship. Faced with the fact that his lover is male, he himself takes on the role of Butterfly, the woman who died for love.

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One theme of the film (as with the play) is Orientalist stereotypes, but Cronenberg removed many of the political overtones from the story in order to focus more intensely on the relationship between Gallimard and Song. A key line in the film is "A man knows best what men want from women". As in other Cronenberg films such as Dead Ringers and Naked Lunch, a major concern is the blurring or reversing of sexual roles, and the psychological consequences this can bring.

Related Topics:
Orientalist - Dead Ringers - Naked Lunch

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