M. Butterfly
M. Butterfly is a 1993 American romantic drama film directed by David Cronenberg. The screenplay was written by David Henry Hwang based on his play of the same name. The film stars Jeremy Irons and John Lone, with Ian Richardson, Barbara Sukowa, and Annabel Leventon. The story is loosely based on true events which involved French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Chinese opera singer Shi Pei Pu.
Plot
René Gallimard is a French diplomat assigned to Beijing, China in the 1960s. He becomes infatuated with a Peking opera performer, Song Liling, who spies on him for the government of the People's Republic of China. Their affair lasts for 20 years, and they subsequently marry, with Gallimard all the while apparently unaware, or willfully ignorant, of the fact that in Peking opera Dan roles were traditionally performed by men.
More details
author | David Cronenberg David Henry Hwang |
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contentLocation | Beijing |
director | David Cronenberg |
editor | Ronald Sanders |
events | Bernard Boursicot Madama Butterfly Shi Pei Pu |
genre | drama romance |
keywords | china dan espionage french french people peking opera |
musicBy | Howard Shore |
producer | Gabriella Martinelli |
productionCompany | The Geffen Film Company |
publisher | Warner Bros. |
theme | lgbt-related romantic drama spy |