The Butterfly
List Price:
Our Price: $15.99
You Save: $13.96 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $15.90 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Claire Bouanich, Jacques Bouanich, Jerry Lucas (II), Michel Serrault, Nade DieuBrand: First RUN Features
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 80 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-19
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: FIRST RUN FEATURES
DVD Reviews of The Butterfly
DVD Review: Wonderful Film
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the warmest, most wonderful family films I have seen in a very long time. I hesitate to use the term family film, for fear of evoking Disney, or uninteresting dribble. The Butterfly is more along the lines of Cinema Paradiso (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition), but rated PG. Like Cinema Paradiso, an old man and a young child develop a deep wonderful relationship. The film is wonderful in watching how Julien begins to understand and appreciate the innocent 12 year old Elsa.
The film was originally released in France in 2002. The DVD was just released in the US. The French know Michel Serrault very well, he's won several Cesars (French Academy Awards). He is a wonderful character actor who starts off as a curmudgeon who gradually warms to Elsa (Claire Bouanich).
At it's core this is a road film, two people travel and get to know eachother, things happen along the way that make the two characters closer, there is a conflict and then resolution. But that oversimplifies the film.
The Butterfly is beautifully filmed. It opens in a generic big city France (although it is Paris, it can pass for about any big city apartments), somewhat gray. Julien's apartment is a full color beautiful hideaway from the gray city. The film then progresses to the French mountains (it could either be the foothills of the Alps or the Pyrennes), where it is full color, open, quiet, and beautiful. The film ends in a green park. The lighting is almost always perfect and the film in focus.
Sound recording is not what we've come to expect. The dialog is crystal clear, but there is no enveloping sound, surround channels are rarely used. This might be more of a throw back to 2001 (when this was filmed) and low budget. The French is wonderfully clear, and yes this could be used for French classes to help learn the language.
Pacing is spot on. There is very little extraneous. The film has been edited to exactly the right length.
The best part of this film is the dialog between Julien and Elsa. His perspective is old world, outdoors to her innocence and only city view. They frequently don't speak the same language. But Elsa learns, as does Julien.
The ending is heartwarming. Somewhat unpredictible, and should never be spoiled.
There is no English soundtrack, the film is only available in French with English subtitles (the subtitles cannot be turned off). The translation is fairly accurate. There are a few word plays that don't translate, but they don't impact the enjoyment of this film. Bonus features are very French, written biographies of the director and Michel Serrault, a slide show of stills, and previews of other films.
If you loved Cinema Paradiso, I think this one will be a winner everyone in your family can watch.
Description of The Butterfly
BUTTERFLY (LE PAPILLON) - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Un Coeur en Hiver ( A Heart in Winter )Koch International; Release date: 2006-11-07; DVD
Best price: $13.84
Price in other shops:
ParisMpi Home Video; Release date: 2010-03-16; DVD
Best price: $8.72
Price in other shops:
To Be and to HaveRelease date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $29.94
Price in other shops:
The Grocer's SonRepnet LLC; Release date: 2009-01-06; DVD
Best price: $11.44
Price in other shops:
Cyrano de BergeracSony; Release date: 2004-02-10; DVD
Best price: $7.23
Price in other shops:
Le Grand VoyageLegrand; Release date: 2006-07-11; DVD
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
The Chorus (Les Choristes)Release date: 2012-01-06; DVD
Best price: $15.14
Price in other shops:
The Class (Entre Les Murs)Sony; Release date: 2009-08-11; DVD
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Jean De Florette / Manon of the Spring (Double Feature)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-07-24; Published: 1987; DVD
Best price: $12.81
Price in other shops:
Le Petit Nicolas (Original French Version with English Subtitles)DVD
Best price: $49.98