Butterfly (2004 film)
Encyclopedia
Butterfly is a 2004 Hong Kong film
based on Taiwanese writer Xue Chen’s novel The Mark of Butterfly (蝴蝶的記號). The film was directed by female award-winning director Yan Yan Mak
and produced by Jacqueline Liu and Yan Yan Mak
with the sponsorship of Hong Kong Art Development Council.
), a married high school teacher, who encounters free spirited female singer-songwriter Yip (Tian Yuan
) and strikes up a relationship with the younger girl. Flavia is a lesbian, but never can act like one because she was brought up in a society where homosexuality
was not accepted. When Flavia was a teenager, she once fell in love with a girl in her class, but the relationship was forced to end when it was discovered by her parents. Flavia, heartbroken, eventually married a competent and caring businessman after she was graduated from university. Now in her 30s and married with a child, she met Yip, a beautiful singer-songwriter. Flavia is deeply attracted by her carefree personality and bright spirit, she fell in love with Yip just like the first love she had in high school. She slowly dares to break out, worried about the consequences but equally about finding her true self again.
, an experimental Iceland
ic musical group; Hopscotch, Tian Yuan
's independent Chinese band and at17
, a Hong Kong Folktronica
band.
Critics Week and Tian Yuan
was awarded as the Best New Artist at the Hong Kong Film Awards
in 2005. The film was also nominated at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards in 2004 for Best Adapted Screenplay (Yan Yan Mak) and Best New Performer (Tian Yuan
). Also, actress Josie Ho
received a nomination at the Golden Bauhinia Awards
for Best Actress and at ILMA Awards for Best Leading Actress, both in 2005.
Also, a blogger on Grace the Spot, a lesbian entertainment and pop culture blog, rated Butterfly as her favourite lesbian film.
invited Ellen Joyce Loo
and Eman Lam
of at17
to star as two of Flavia’s students who also fall in love with each other, but they rejected the roles. The role later was taken by Isabel Chen and Joman Chiang.
There is a hidden music video
of the song 'I will see you', sang by Tian Yuan
, in the DVD (2005 Hong Kong version).
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
based on Taiwanese writer Xue Chen’s novel The Mark of Butterfly (蝴蝶的記號). The film was directed by female award-winning director Yan Yan Mak
Yan Yan Mak
Yan Yan Mak is a Hong Kong based female award-winning director. She was born in the 1970s and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1998. Since 1993, as a student, Mak had worked for the film industry as a continuity girl, assistant director, production manager, art director...
and produced by Jacqueline Liu and Yan Yan Mak
Yan Yan Mak
Yan Yan Mak is a Hong Kong based female award-winning director. She was born in the 1970s and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1998. Since 1993, as a student, Mak had worked for the film industry as a continuity girl, assistant director, production manager, art director...
with the sponsorship of Hong Kong Art Development Council.
Plot
The film follows Flavia (Josie HoJosie Ho
Josephine "Josie" Ho Chiu-Yi is a daughter of Macao casino magnate Stanley Ho, and a singer and actress from Hong Kong.-Movie career:She was involved in numerous movies, TV commercials, TV dramas, and singing performances....
), a married high school teacher, who encounters free spirited female singer-songwriter Yip (Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
) and strikes up a relationship with the younger girl. Flavia is a lesbian, but never can act like one because she was brought up in a society where homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
was not accepted. When Flavia was a teenager, she once fell in love with a girl in her class, but the relationship was forced to end when it was discovered by her parents. Flavia, heartbroken, eventually married a competent and caring businessman after she was graduated from university. Now in her 30s and married with a child, she met Yip, a beautiful singer-songwriter. Flavia is deeply attracted by her carefree personality and bright spirit, she fell in love with Yip just like the first love she had in high school. She slowly dares to break out, worried about the consequences but equally about finding her true self again.
Soundtrack
The film features a set of interesting music and songs from various artistes such as MúmMúm
múm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
, an experimental Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic musical group; Hopscotch, Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
's independent Chinese band and at17
At17
at17 , consist of Eman Lam and Ellen Joyce Loo, is a Hong Kong based Cantopop and folktronica girl band managed under production company People Mountain People Sea.-Biography:...
, a Hong Kong Folktronica
Folktronica
Folktronica or electrofolk is a genre of music comprising various elements of folk music and electronica, often featuring samplings of acoustic instruments—especially stringed instruments—and incorporating hip hop rhythms...
band.
- Now There’s That Fear Again, from MúmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
's album Finally We Are No OneFinally We Are No One-Personnel:*Samuli Kosminen — drums and percussion on multiple tracks.*Orri - organ crackles.*Eiríkur Orri Ólafsson – trumpet.*Helga Þóra Björgvinsdóttir, Ingrid Karlsdóttir, Anna Hugadóttir – violins and violas on tracks 9....
, - Sleep, Swim (as above),
- Green Grass of Tunnel (as above),
- Weeping Rock, Rock, from MúmMúmmúm are an experimental Icelandic musical group whose music is characterized by soft vocals, electronic glitch beats and effects, and a variety of traditional and unconventional instruments.- History :...
's album Summer Make GoodSummer Make GoodSummer Make Good is an album by the Icelandic group múm. It was released on the Fat Cat label in 2004.-Track listing:# "Hú Hviss - A Ship" – 1:27# "Weeping Rock, Rock" – 6:18# "Nightly Cares" – 4:58# "The Ghosts You Draw on My Back" – 4:14...
, - A Wishful Way, from Hopscotch's (Tian YuanTian YuanTian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
's band) album A Wishful Way - She (as above),
- The Best is Yet to Come, from at17At17at17 , consist of Eman Lam and Ellen Joyce Loo, is a Hong Kong based Cantopop and folktronica girl band managed under production company People Mountain People Sea.-Biography:...
's album Meow Meow Meow.
Reception
Butterfly was chosen as the Opening Film at Venice Film FestivalVenice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
Critics Week and Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
was awarded as the Best New Artist at the Hong Kong Film Awards
Hong Kong Film Awards
The Hong Kong Film Awards , founded in 1982, are the most prestigious film awards in Hong Kong and among the most respected in mainland China and Taiwan. Award ceremonies are held annually, typically in April. The Awards recognize achievement in all aspects of filmmaking, such as directing,...
in 2005. The film was also nominated at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards in 2004 for Best Adapted Screenplay (Yan Yan Mak) and Best New Performer (Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
). Also, actress Josie Ho
Josie Ho
Josephine "Josie" Ho Chiu-Yi is a daughter of Macao casino magnate Stanley Ho, and a singer and actress from Hong Kong.-Movie career:She was involved in numerous movies, TV commercials, TV dramas, and singing performances....
received a nomination at the Golden Bauhinia Awards
Golden Bauhinia Awards
Golden Bauhinia Awards is a Hong Kong film award organised by the Hong Kong Film Critics Association. Its first award presentation ceremony took place in 1996....
for Best Actress and at ILMA Awards for Best Leading Actress, both in 2005.
Also, a blogger on Grace the Spot, a lesbian entertainment and pop culture blog, rated Butterfly as her favourite lesbian film.
Casting and hidden feature
According to the commentary on the DVD, director Yan Yan MakYan Yan Mak
Yan Yan Mak is a Hong Kong based female award-winning director. She was born in the 1970s and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1998. Since 1993, as a student, Mak had worked for the film industry as a continuity girl, assistant director, production manager, art director...
invited Ellen Joyce Loo
Ellen Joyce Loo
Ellen Joyce Loo is a member of the Hong Kong cantopop musical group at17. She was born in Canada on March 27, 1986. Loo learned classical guitar from her father at the age of nine. She entered the musical competition "Original Music 2000" with her older brother P.J. Loo in Hong Kong, sponsored by...
and Eman Lam
Eman Lam
Eman Lam is a Hong Kong cantopop singer and musician. Lam and Ellen Joyce Loo form the group at17.- Background :Eman Lam is the sister of Hong Kong based singer-songwriter and musician Chet Lam. Probably influenced by her brother, she began performing music early in life...
of at17
At17
at17 , consist of Eman Lam and Ellen Joyce Loo, is a Hong Kong based Cantopop and folktronica girl band managed under production company People Mountain People Sea.-Biography:...
to star as two of Flavia’s students who also fall in love with each other, but they rejected the roles. The role later was taken by Isabel Chen and Joman Chiang.
There is a hidden music video
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
of the song 'I will see you', sang by Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan
Tian Yuan is a Chinese singer-songwriter, actress, novelist and photographer. Born in Wuhan, China, she majored in English at Beijing Language and Culture University, and graduated in 2007.-Music career:...
, in the DVD (2005 Hong Kong version).