Review – M. Butterfly

Fans of David Cronenberg’s earlier work will probably be deeply disappointed by this odd romance between a French diplomat (Jeremy Irons) and a Chinese opera singer (John Lone) in 1960s Beijing. Sadly for our lovelorn protagonist, he doesn’t seem to know much about traditional Chinese opera performers. Or he simply doesn’t care. In addition to the complex nature of their relationship, the politics of the time add an espionage angle to the mix. The result is a drawn-out portrait of a successful man undone by his own obsessions, a pretty picture with no greater purpose than to make the observation that love tends to follow its own path. Mildly amusing