The Butterfly
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The Butterfly
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Reviewed by Vittorio J. Carli
for Reel Movie Critic
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HHH
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Cast
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Michel Serrault
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Julien
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Claire Bouanich
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Elsa
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Nade Dieu
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Isabelle
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Written and directed by Philippe Muyl. A drama. First Run Feature. Running time: 79 minutes. In French with English sub-titles.
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"The Butterfly" is a touching little drama that was a huge success in France. It's about the unlikely friendship that develops between a neglected girl and an anti-social senior citizen who collects butterflies.
It was made by a promising French director, Phillippe Muyl.
His other features, "Cuisine et Dependences" and "All Must Disappear" were huge successes in Europe, but he has not established a name for himself in the US so far. "The Butterfly" is fairly accessible and it may expand his audience.
Michel Serrault is one of the most significant figures that emerged from French cinema in the 1950s. He has gotten steady work since then, and has been in over 100 films. Some of his most outstanding work was done in "Les Diaboliques (1954), "The King of Hearts" (1966), "La Cage Aux Follies (1978), and "Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud (1995)." He earned three Cesar awards for best actor.
His co-star Claire Bouanich, holds her own against the distinguished actor. She plays, Elsa, an eight-year-old girl with a constantly absent mother.
She is extremely bright, highly inquisitive, and she's in need of adult guidance. She begins spending lots of time with her elderly neighbor, Julien (Serrault), and becomes interested in his butterfly collection.
At first Julien, the grumpy hermit tries to discourage her interest. But to his surprise, he gradually warms up to her-perhaps because she reminds him what it was like to be young. Claire accompanies him to the mountains to capture a rare butterfly.
The intergenerational friendship expands both their horizons, but Claire's mom is agitated when she returns home to find her daughter gone. Soon the police are in hot pursuit of the pair.
"The Butterfly" is a bit slow moving at times, but it is also tender, lovingly shot, and beautifully acted. It is a family film that pulls at your heartstrings without insulting your intelligence.
