M. Butterfly Movie Review 1993

Disappointing adaptation of Hwang's award-winning play, which was based on a true story. Irons is Rene Gallimard, a minor French diplomat sent to China in 1964. Taken in by the exoticism of the mysterious east, he falls for a Chinese opera performer, Song Liling (Lone). Only she's no lady and the oblivious diplomat turns out to be a patsy as Song Liling uses him to gather information. The story only works if the passion, however deceptive, between Gallimard and Song Liling is believable, passion which is noticeably lacking between Irons and Lone. Irons comes across as too intelligent to be gullibile and the usually excellent Lone does not make his role believable.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS
Running time 101 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Cold War Spies, Adapted from a Play, True Stories, Gender Bending, China, Period Piece: 1960s, Politics

Screenplay

David Henry Hwang

Cast

Jeremy Irons, John Lone, Ian Richardson, Barbara Sukowa, Vernon Dobtcheff, Annabel Leventon, Shizuko Hoshi, Richard McMillan

Director

David Cronenberg

Music

Howard Shore

Producer

Gabriella Martinelli, David Henry Hwang, Philip Sandhaus, Geffen Pictures