M. Butterfly (1993)

A most curious and interesting film; René Gallimard, a French middle level diplomat in postwar Beijing (played by Jeremy Irons) becomes infatuated with a Chinese opera actress, Song Liling (John Lone). We know, but he seems to have forgotten, that in Chinese theatre the lead female parts are played by men. Their affair deepens, and Liling says later that "he was very responsive to my ancient Oriental ways of love, all of which I invented myself, just for him".

Although Song is entirely flat chested and not very feminine looking, René continues this affair all unaware.

The Maoist cultural revolution gathers speed and we discover that Liling is passing French diplomatic secrets from René to the Chinese. Eventually she tells René she is having a baby by him, and the authorities provide a new born baby for her to show him. He's convinced and she has a new control over him.

This is a faithful film version of the David Henry Hwang play, with heavy references to the Puccini opera Madame Butterfly, in which the Japanese girl is eventually deserted by an American naval officer; here the genders are reversed, with é the one who is cheated on. In the film we are never sure how much Liling returns René's love; whatever, it all ends in disaster, as it must, with a further reference to René's destiny as Madame Butterfly.

Some critics condemn the film for failing to develop the characters or the background adequately; I found it moving, but eventually disappointing because the plot doesn't really go anywhere.

HF 2000

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