MovieChat Forums > M. Butterfly (1993) Discussion > correct me please...

correct me please...

posted 18 years ago by mynameismud
11 replies | jump to latest

is this film pronounced M. butterfly, or is it called Madame Butterfly with the M as an abrevitaion? i know it sounds silly but Puccini's MADAME BUTTERFLY is a differant story from this. hmmmmmm.

[–] EmpressM10 18 years ago

It's just M. Butterfly. The "M" doesn't stand for "madame." We watched this movie in my theater class week because it was originally a play. I wish the title was different though, it is a little misleading.

[–] esjunnes 17 years ago

The M. is the standard French abbreviation for "monsieur" Madame would be Mme.

Hwang was attempting to give the audience a clue as to the gender of Song in the piece.

[–] kizzim03 18 years ago

Empress is correct, the 'M' doesn't stand for Madame. According to the afterword in the book, the play was origionally titled 'Monsieur butterfly'. However, since it was too obvious it was "abbreviated in the French Fashion". Thus an ambiguous and mysterious title remains.

[–] K_Sear 18 years ago

M. is the abbreviation for monsieur just like Mme. is the abbreviation for madame. So, as far as I am concerned, the title of the film should be read as "Monsieur Butterfly" (ie. Mr. Butterfly) although no one says that but me.

[–] takiko-1 18 years ago

Uh, look at the comment above you (in nest format). It explains the title change.

[–] JussieC 17 years ago

kylijoki

M. is the abbreviation for monsieur just like Mme. is the abbreviation for madame. So, as far as I am concerned, the title of the film should be read as "Monsieur Butterfly" (ie. Mr. Butterfly) although no one says that but me.

You aren't alone any more. I've always thought the intent of the title was to change "Madame Butterfly" to "Monsieur Butterfly" as a reference to the fact that in this story, the opera singer is male, not female. And it is also indicates that the character for whom the operatic Butterfly is a metaphor is portrayed by a male.

Greetings, Sons of the Bird! The Bird is CRUEL!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] danrimage 17 years ago

***SPOILERS***

If I'm not mistaken, the title in both play and film actually refers to Gallimard, since he is the one who ends up killing himself, alone with a broken heart. This is made explicit in the final scene with his performance piece, in which he identifies himself with the victim in the opera.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] DC_Collins 9 years ago

Wow. This was a thread worth reading. danrimage has a great interpretation. It looks like both readings are true on different levels. Pretty much the same way the definitions of gender and sexuality keep twisting back and forth without ever coming to rest entirely. Seems like a sure bet for Cronenberg's least appreciated, most underrated movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087239/

[–] PreachCaleb 9 years ago

So in essence, they're both M. Butterfly.

Can't stop the signal.