It is my very first time seeing Irons act and I've loved him since. This is not even a much appraised production of Jeremy Irons. He is a wonderful actor.
I love M. Butterfly, it is one of my favorite plays (I read it in college) and I have wanted to see it played out since. So glad you posted this, I will have to buy it now :), I didn't even know there was a movie.
Favorite line in the movie/play:
"Song: How come in Beijing opera the woman roles are traditionally played by men?- Because only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act."
@hellokittyrocksyodad Rene never recovered from discovering that his Butterfly is a man. And his career is in the toilet, so to speak, his marriage is long over, how much further down could Rene actually go at this point?
As for the prison performance of Butterfly's death scene, I don't have any answer for that. But my guess is that the other prisoners realized it could have easily been one of them who had been deceived by Song.
I could add to NothingED's that Rene had a very idealistic view of a perfect love that exists in his fantasy of an Asian woman. Since Song was a man he knew how men wanted to be treated every moment. Since Song was a spy he would always forgive and forget any misdeed of Rene's. Thus Song appeared as the perfect woman. Rene's mistook this behaviour as the Asian woman's natural disposition. So, on top of everything else he also lost his idea of pure love and devotion.
@aihposs well u see... when butterfly revealed herself to be a man he lost the woman he loved. and he...like the real madam butterfly realized that he had been disgraced by loving someone who didn't deserve it. he would rather die than be plagued by the memory of something that wasnt real.... i could go more into into it and give u a philosophical and psychological explination but youtube comments have a word limit
@aihposs I think he just considered himself as Madam Butterfly, an oriental woman will to die for the man unworthy (the man who pretended to be a woman).
Thank you for uploading this excellent film! Appreciate it greatly--stunning and a great, fitting twist at the end. I agree with the persons who said the film is indeed haunting and incredible; had me tearing up @ the end :'( Thx again!
That was one of the most amazing videos I've ever seen. Some people have their opinion of it being boring, and we can't criticize them for that, but in my opinion, they really need to look at the depth. The script and film-making was amazing, and i found it so surreal. It's very ironic how Jeremy Irons ended up being Madame Butterfly....Thank you very much for uploading this piece of art, this Masterpiece!
I guess the script is clever blah blah, the reversed roles, blah blah, but it only works if you think of it as something dated, which in fact carries a deeply homophobic message and it is horrible shot and at times the actors are horribly directed. Even the way Cronenberg LIGHTS the sets doesnt work for this movie. He should have never filmed this, It's crap
@amatorynumber My dear, you better accept the reality as it is. Men invented women they wanted and trained them via socity. This movie is not at all homophobic. It should help you open the eyes to see that men "love" their invention and don't care about the person itself as (s)he really is. As long as those in woman's role play according to the prescription, they are loved, otherwise abandoned: "I am a man." You are, but you have forgotten to learn about the woman outside your head.
It was an interesting story. The roles seemed to be reversed from the play of Madame Butterfly. Jeremy Irons did a wonderful performance, as did the actor who played Shing. I was very surprised that the 'she' was a 'he'. The vision of the perfect Asian woman is both flattering and at the same time discouraging. I am Korean, and in some ways I feel men are attracted to the exterior 'exotic' look and the calmness they see. I am glad I am not a man playing a woman.
geeze. I am in love with his scrip. I am so happy to find out there is a movie! I've read the script over and over and over. and i love it every time. so from what i have read, this movie does the play justice...well i cant wait to watch it. its such a beautiful story.
Yup. Spies are utilitarian ass holes. And Pawns. Shing is the ultimate bitch even if he is a guy. After all that they went through and Galimaire doing all that to be with Shing in the end he was just a means to en ends. What a fucking prick. Something no one ever comments is what happened to Bernard Boursicot's wife (this is the dude on who's life M Butterfly play and movie is based on). Odd that the paly is not on you tube. Just the movie
God everybody that has watched this movie on youtube is apparently really stupid . . . stop pointing out the obvious manipulation contrasting it with Madama Butterfly . . . and the Liling guy is being shipped back to China because he isn't a French citizen, it happens, they prolly made a deal with the Chinese or something. Point is he's going back, it's onvious.
This is a masterpiece. Jeremy Irons' monologue in the end was so sad. And John Lone was incredible. Maybe it is weird, but I was crying till the end.
What a sad story it is! Real life is always more dramatic and legendary than drama. I really wonder how Mr. Shi feel about cheating the man he loved for 18 years. However ,I believe that Mr. Shi must love the French man too.
It's quite shocking the realisation that the true Mme Butterfly wasn't Song Liling as it appeared to be in the beginning but Gallimard himself...Such an irony...
I agree with your understanding of this drama which worthy Shecspiere's imagination. Jeromy Irons makes this very challenging character so believable. He is the greatest actor of our time. Thank you for the movie - loved it.
GERAT MOVIE!!! 1ce again thanx 4 sharin it. tjhis is my 1st time seein it & must say that its worth it. i felt sympathy 4 renee & what his life became. how his mentality & life r no longer with him, .
252 - 655
was so touching...i loved it
712 & 758 OH DAMN!!! i felt sorrow in my heart & can imagine what reneed felt.
4 luv truly hurts when its shattere /damaged. that is what mine became was when i lost my real true 1st luv.
Let's see.. Gallimard was arrested for treason against the French government, and so was Song Liling, I assume. I'm not sure why Gallimard is performing for the prison inmates, and where Song Liling is going, though.
Well he `s got the handcuffs off, hasn`t he? (3:3 -3:45) And pay attention to the car in which he arrives (2:11-2:30) Prisoners aren`t driven in such cars. These scenes could be hints that he`s not going to be put in jail.
I think he is sending back to china.... But in real story, the french diplomat still alive although he attempted to suicide but unable to die... Now the spy has passed away recently but the french still alive ...
Butterfly has killed him already before, emotionally and mentally. So the physical part follows with the suicide. And the play is the perfect way for the suicide. That`s why he`s performing the play. It`s not to entertain the prison inmates :)
It's supposed to be ironic. The gender roles have been reversed between the two men. In Irons' monologue, he first speaks from the perspective of a Frenchman who has "the perfect woman" at his feet. As he puts on makeup, he admits his vulnerability and becomes the person who has given himself to a "foreign devil" or man who does not deserve his love. Both Lone's and Irons' characters have this duality, which is a reason why you see alternating shots of the two at the end.
Thank you so much for posting this incredible film. The end is absolutely gut-wrenching, it actually made me cry...Jeremy Irons was superb, absolutely haunting as the actual Butterfly. Thank you again.
It's a terrible crime that this beautiful film isn't available on DVD. Now that I had the chance to watch it, it's actually my favourite from Cronenberg.
fat tears are rolling down my cheeks
MichiLiebe 1 month ago
Qué triste ... T_T
chicoplateado 2 months ago
JEREMY IRONS IS THE BEST! I love all the roles he plays in so many movies! Tks to share it! ;)
BEATRIZBARRUETO 2 months ago
Wow, what a great film. I thank you for your effort in posting this story.
diamonddv1028 3 months ago
It is my very first time seeing Irons act and I've loved him since. This is not even a much appraised production of Jeremy Irons. He is a wonderful actor.
karenzhong 5 months ago
wonder if he found another butt..... i mean butterfly in prison
reidiculousclark 6 months ago
thanks so much for posting this in full. seriously, thank you.
withrowag 6 months ago
Absolutely breath taking! Thank you for posting this lovely film.
capricorn14 7 months ago
I love M. Butterfly, it is one of my favorite plays (I read it in college) and I have wanted to see it played out since. So glad you posted this, I will have to buy it now :), I didn't even know there was a movie.
Favorite line in the movie/play:
"Song: How come in Beijing opera the woman roles are traditionally played by men?- Because only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act."
robynstar1606 10 months ago
So haunting... reminded me of Black Swan at the end.
brettman123 10 months ago
love his performance in front of inmates
trnjulcica 10 months ago
beautiful movie wif superb acting both by jeremy iron n john lone... made my cry again n again...
beyondnafas 1 year ago
Comment removed
mshayashi 1 year ago
@mshayashi They did have sexual relations but rene never saw his/her body.
tarochan23 9 months ago
@mshayashi It wasn't about sex but the ideas that we have in our mind about love or sacrifice
faithdugan49 2 months ago
i dont mean to sound like an idiot, but could someone tell me why he killed himself? and why was he performing in jail?
hellokittyrocksyodad 1 year ago
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@hellokittyrocksyodad Rene never recovered from discovering that his Butterfly is a man. And his career is in the toilet, so to speak, his marriage is long over, how much further down could Rene actually go at this point?
As for the prison performance of Butterfly's death scene, I don't have any answer for that. But my guess is that the other prisoners realized it could have easily been one of them who had been deceived by Song.
SaintHangman 11 months ago
I could add to NothingED's that Rene had a very idealistic view of a perfect love that exists in his fantasy of an Asian woman. Since Song was a man he knew how men wanted to be treated every moment. Since Song was a spy he would always forgive and forget any misdeed of Rene's. Thus Song appeared as the perfect woman. Rene's mistook this behaviour as the Asian woman's natural disposition. So, on top of everything else he also lost his idea of pure love and devotion.
MartiniShelby 1 year ago
guys, i dont get it why he commits suicide?
aihposs 1 year ago
@aihposs well u see... when butterfly revealed herself to be a man he lost the woman he loved. and he...like the real madam butterfly realized that he had been disgraced by loving someone who didn't deserve it. he would rather die than be plagued by the memory of something that wasnt real.... i could go more into into it and give u a philosophical and psychological explination but youtube comments have a word limit
NothingED 1 year ago
@aihposs I think he just considered himself as Madam Butterfly, an oriental woman will to die for the man unworthy (the man who pretended to be a woman).
daoqilv 10 months ago
Comment removed
daoqilv 10 months ago
So powerful!!!!!!
Thank you !
Gindeshanghai 1 year ago
Thank you for uploading this excellent film! Appreciate it greatly--stunning and a great, fitting twist at the end. I agree with the persons who said the film is indeed haunting and incredible; had me tearing up @ the end :'( Thx again!
lighthousedreamers 1 year ago
D':
mad7o7 1 year ago
Mirella Freni?
chrizosthemis 1 year ago
That was one of the most amazing videos I've ever seen. Some people have their opinion of it being boring, and we can't criticize them for that, but in my opinion, they really need to look at the depth. The script and film-making was amazing, and i found it so surreal. It's very ironic how Jeremy Irons ended up being Madame Butterfly....Thank you very much for uploading this piece of art, this Masterpiece!
MultiMath101 1 year ago 3
I guess the script is clever blah blah, the reversed roles, blah blah, but it only works if you think of it as something dated, which in fact carries a deeply homophobic message and it is horrible shot and at times the actors are horribly directed. Even the way Cronenberg LIGHTS the sets doesnt work for this movie. He should have never filmed this, It's crap
amatorynumber 1 year ago
@amatorynumber My dear, you better accept the reality as it is. Men invented women they wanted and trained them via socity. This movie is not at all homophobic. It should help you open the eyes to see that men "love" their invention and don't care about the person itself as (s)he really is. As long as those in woman's role play according to the prescription, they are loved, otherwise abandoned: "I am a man." You are, but you have forgotten to learn about the woman outside your head.
ruzbehan 1 year ago 2
It was an interesting story. The roles seemed to be reversed from the play of Madame Butterfly. Jeremy Irons did a wonderful performance, as did the actor who played Shing. I was very surprised that the 'she' was a 'he'. The vision of the perfect Asian woman is both flattering and at the same time discouraging. I am Korean, and in some ways I feel men are attracted to the exterior 'exotic' look and the calmness they see. I am glad I am not a man playing a woman.
eejhj85 1 year ago 4
this movie mirrors that of the same kind of event in my life....only im not asian...
LeumasXseraph 1 year ago
stupid n boring movie, just watched it due to the pressure of its-a-masterpiece-bla-bla
tranquilitychristo 1 year ago
@tranquilitychristo - Actually it was panned by most of the critics, although the play was very successful.
missbabyice 1 year ago
geeze. I am in love with his scrip. I am so happy to find out there is a movie! I've read the script over and over and over. and i love it every time. so from what i have read, this movie does the play justice...well i cant wait to watch it. its such a beautiful story.
tejay888 1 year ago 3
This scene alwys makes me cry. Love is a fickle whore.
SweetLilNibs 1 year ago 2
It's so surreal how he's killed himself and they don't know it and they're still clapping.
juliabohemian 2 years ago 9
Yup. Spies are utilitarian ass holes. And Pawns. Shing is the ultimate bitch even if he is a guy. After all that they went through and Galimaire doing all that to be with Shing in the end he was just a means to en ends. What a fucking prick. Something no one ever comments is what happened to Bernard Boursicot's wife (this is the dude on who's life M Butterfly play and movie is based on). Odd that the paly is not on you tube. Just the movie
bigtimepimpin666 2 years ago
omg that was so sad, yet i kind of expected that... with him being the one willing to live a lie and all... anyway, great movie.
Gritan721 2 years ago 2
God everybody that has watched this movie on youtube is apparently really stupid . . . stop pointing out the obvious manipulation contrasting it with Madama Butterfly . . . and the Liling guy is being shipped back to China because he isn't a French citizen, it happens, they prolly made a deal with the Chinese or something. Point is he's going back, it's onvious.
yukikoforevernoise 2 years ago
oh so sad.
kakashtenten 2 years ago
L'apoteosi dell'amore...!
ariacurva 2 years ago
Comment removed
66Flyingdutchwoman 2 years ago
Hai sbagliato film! Quello a cui ti riferisci è: "Il Danno" e non: "M Butterfly"!
ariacurva 2 years ago
this movie is completely shocking to me.... but i really liked it! there will be no tragedy like this..... :(
whjzang 2 years ago 4
its based on a true story
cosmeticnerd 2 years ago
...holy shit. That was so sad. I never want to see Jeremy Irons in drag, ever again, as long as i live.
crazygabbi 2 years ago 7
i second that! jesus christ gave me a heart attack, lol.
cosmeticnerd 2 years ago
WOW...he's completely lost it! On another note, I'll bet he was really popular in prison!
Diosafied 2 years ago 6
Thanks for uploading this film. It was a real brain bender which was so strange, it can only be true.
mmedefarge 2 years ago 3
Przedziwny film, zaskakujący.
biedronkasrajducha 2 years ago
This is a masterpiece. Jeremy Irons' monologue in the end was so sad. And John Lone was incredible. Maybe it is weird, but I was crying till the end.
arimaroma 2 years ago 5
INCREDIBLE !!!
AmourBond 2 years ago 3
his eyes looked so sad... like a puppy.
npaujbais 2 years ago 3
why did butterfly broke down and cried? i think they're in love
npaujbais 2 years ago 6
The ending....so sad. I love how the story mimicked the title. They must have loved each other so deeply when they were together.
creamysodarevenge 2 years ago 5
What a sad story it is! Real life is always more dramatic and legendary than drama. I really wonder how Mr. Shi feel about cheating the man he loved for 18 years. However ,I believe that Mr. Shi must love the French man too.
itispainful 2 years ago 3
I thought this was a homosexual movie that ended happy
MidoriOri 2 years ago
halal ^_^
Jihadist4LIFE 2 years ago 2
Irons did a great job. He looked so fragile... almost childlike and girlish at the end.
PickleFritter 2 years ago 6
Comment removed
fragoua 2 years ago
It's quite shocking the realisation that the true Mme Butterfly wasn't Song Liling as it appeared to be in the beginning but Gallimard himself...Such an irony...
fragoua 2 years ago 28
I agree with your understanding of this drama which worthy Shecspiere's imagination. Jeromy Irons makes this very challenging character so believable. He is the greatest actor of our time. Thank you for the movie - loved it.
nleytman 2 years ago 3
Yay, yay, yay, yay, I got to finally see it all the way through. Thanks very much, wargeek.
Sigh, John Lone and Jeremy Irons... John Lone, hot; Jeremy Irons, good looking (except as a butterfly).
ProfessorxSpecter 2 years ago 7
GERAT MOVIE!!! 1ce again thanx 4 sharin it. tjhis is my 1st time seein it & must say that its worth it. i felt sympathy 4 renee & what his life became. how his mentality & life r no longer with him, .
252 - 655
was so touching...i loved it
712 & 758 OH DAMN!!! i felt sorrow in my heart & can imagine what reneed felt.
4 luv truly hurts when its shattere /damaged. that is what mine became was when i lost my real true 1st luv.
phdseuss 2 years ago
I didn't understand what happened with like, the last 15 minutes of this movie. Can someone explain it to me?
Jeffieboi 2 years ago
Let's see.. Gallimard was arrested for treason against the French government, and so was Song Liling, I assume. I'm not sure why Gallimard is performing for the prison inmates, and where Song Liling is going, though.
nosenipples 2 years ago
@nosenipples & Jeffieboi:
Song Liling -
Well he `s got the handcuffs off, hasn`t he? (3:3 -3:45) And pay attention to the car in which he arrives (2:11-2:30) Prisoners aren`t driven in such cars. These scenes could be hints that he`s not going to be put in jail.
alma1980sommerregen 2 years ago 2
I think he is sending back to china.... But in real story, the french diplomat still alive although he attempted to suicide but unable to die... Now the spy has passed away recently but the french still alive ...
kbundy023 2 years ago 3
@nosennipples & Jeffieboi:
Gallimard -
Butterfly has killed him already before, emotionally and mentally. So the physical part follows with the suicide. And the play is the perfect way for the suicide. That`s why he`s performing the play. It`s not to entertain the prison inmates :)
At least this is my interpretation :)
alma1980sommerregen 2 years ago
It's supposed to be ironic. The gender roles have been reversed between the two men. In Irons' monologue, he first speaks from the perspective of a Frenchman who has "the perfect woman" at his feet. As he puts on makeup, he admits his vulnerability and becomes the person who has given himself to a "foreign devil" or man who does not deserve his love. Both Lone's and Irons' characters have this duality, which is a reason why you see alternating shots of the two at the end.
PickleFritter 2 years ago 6
thax, i like the movie so much
Mika21shane 2 years ago 2
What is this VCR you speak of?
MrJeff3rs0n 2 years ago 3
Thank you so much for posting this incredible film. The end is absolutely gut-wrenching, it actually made me cry...Jeremy Irons was superb, absolutely haunting as the actual Butterfly. Thank you again.
Capricaquarius89 3 years ago 33
i like to thank you for posting the movie up. The only copy of this movie is on VHS. thank you once again!
orianahh 3 years ago
In the original play, it is not implied that Song loved Rene, and now that I saw how John Lone played it, I am utterly impressed.
MaskedLion 3 years ago 4
i will never forget this movie, thank you for posting,
023sk 3 years ago 3
Wow, I'm utterly speechless. I'm just... stunned.
It's a terrible crime that this beautiful film isn't available on DVD. Now that I had the chance to watch it, it's actually my favourite from Cronenberg.
siberia82 3 years ago 4
and brilliant
ukgirlonce 3 years ago 3
oh God thats just heartbreaking..........
ukgirlonce 3 years ago 6
Masterpiece.I find no words for it...
Ruad 3 years ago 5