80
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas
An exceptionally satisfying film of much grace and beauty.
The Butterfly (Le Papillon)
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- France
- 2002
- · 85m
Director
Philippe Muyl
Cast
Michel Serrault,
Claire Bouanich,
Nade Dieu,
Françoise Michaud,
Pierre Poirot,
Jacky Nercessian
Genre
Drama,
Family
A young French girl, Elsa, is often left on her own due to the work schedule of her single mother, Isabelle. After Elsa encounters Julien, a surly old butterfly collector, the two set out on a journey through the countryside. Intent on finding a particularly short-lived butterfly, Julien and Elsa form an unlikely friendship.
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What are critics saying?
80
The Hollywood Reporter
Perfect holiday entertainment, albeit for those small fry who can read English subtitles.
80
The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck
Perfect holiday entertainment, albeit for those small fry who can read English subtitles.
75
New York Post by V.A. Musetto
Sentimental and predictable? Sure, but The Butterfly is so well-meaning and the wide-eyed Bouanich is so sweet and lovable only a Scrooge would dare complain.
75
San Francisco Chronicle by Walter Addiego
The film has a sweetness that stops short of sentimentality.
70
The New York Times by Stephen Holden
Its scrupulous, even-toned gentleness makes " The Butterfly suitable for children, while its clear-eyed intelligence and refusal to condescend should make it appealing to adults.
70
Variety by Lisa Nesselson
A solidly entertaining, cross-generational two-hander, The Butterfly strikes the right balance between humor and observational bite.
63
Miami Herald by Marta Barber
Adults expecting intellectual stimulation better skip this one. Not that the Philippe Muyl film is devoid of charm; it oozes it. The story is as predictable as a hot summer in South Florida.
60
L.A. Weekly by Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
If there's anyone to credit for The Butterfly's eventual triumph over the inherent fatuousness of the material, it's the great Serrault and his tiny leading lady, who matches her elder nearly line for line and look for look.
60
TV Guide Magazine by Angel Cohn
The film's heart is the relationship between Elsa and Julien, and stars Bouanich and Serrault have a lovely onscreen rapport that's truly endearing.
60
The A.V. Club by Noel Murray
Cutesy and slight, but it's also polished and well-lit, and Muyl makes a weeklong hike roll by pleasantly, reducing it to about 80 minutes of screen time.
50
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
It's all very sweet and occasionally touching. More lasting shots of more beautiful butterflies would have added a lot, though.
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