Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Doomtomylo a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

s_dot_3 Le Papillon is an endearing movie that tugs at your heart as it entertains as well. It is good to see a movie that is not the normal mindless Hollywood dribble. If you walk away not feeling touched in some way by this movie, then you need to go to the wizard and get a heart. Maybe the symbolism is simple (i.e., the caterpillar becomes a butterfly scenario), but it still resonates and is an important lesson from which we all can and should benefit. Maybe we should all be like the characters in this film who start out flawed, yet find a greater sense of self, worth, and duty.Do yourself a favor: go buy this movie. I promise you will not be disappointed.

CigaretJim Le Papillon ("The Butterfly") is a lightweight, charming, and mostly successful film. This story of a crotchety old butterfly collector (Michel Serrault) traveling--at first unwittingly--with a precocious young girl (Claire Bouanich) offers no new Insights On The Human Condition, but is pleasant, funny and touching in parts.Both leads are very effective; in particular Claire Bouanich as youngster Elsa is very cute without ever becoming too hammy.***************** Now, HERE IS THE MILD NON-SPECIFIC SPOILER: This movie works quite nicely all the way up to the end, at which point writer/director Philippe Muyl decides to throw in the SECOND of two rather miraculous coincidences. The first coincidence/miracle is wonderful, and could have provided more than enough "magic" for the conclusion. But, it seems Muyl doesn't trust the emotional weight of his own story and tacks on, in what's almost a throwaway line, a second amazing coincidence. For me at least, this cheapens the film somewhat. *****************END OF SPOILERThat caveat notwithstanding, I still enjoyed it very much and recommend it to viewers who are looking for a bit of light entertainment with beautiful scenery and excellent performances. 7.5/10

writers_reign The premise of an old man/woman lumbered with a young child of invariably the opposite sex is a time-honored plot in both literature and movies. Damon Runyon's 'Little Miss Marker', for instance made it from short story to screen at least twice, three times if you count the Tony Curtis '40 Pounds Of Trouble' entry. So ideally we need to apply a little spin to the genre and that's what we have here, a Gallic souffle pitting Michel Serrault's solitary specialist against the neglected child from the one-parent family. Helmer Muyl artfully turns this into a quest movie; all his life Serrault has been searching for the rare 'Isabella' butterfly which only breeds for 30 seconds every other Fall. As luck would have it - or not, as the case may be - just as he sets out for an extended trip to nail the sucker once and for all he finds stowaway Elsa (with her often-absentee mother she has moved into Serrault's apartment building and already caused havoc by opening the hot-house door against his specific instructions, thereby releasing several species into the wild). There's nowhere really new to go with a story like this so that the best we can hope for is to be charmed along the way - and, in this case, get some spectacular scenery thrown in - and that we get, in spades. At his age Serrault should know better than to go up against Cute on wheels but incredibly he holds his own and the result is Feelgood squared. If there is a minor beef it is that not enough was made of Elsa's wandering away, falling down a well obliging Serrault to involve the police and face charges of kidnap if not worse. With barely any explanation he is freed and befriends Elsa's mother before settling down to teach Elsa how life goes in cycles via the hatching of the specimens they caught. Cynics may balk at the Bluebird of Happiness reference when Serrault learns that a specimen sent to him at the outset is, in fact, the elusive Isabella, i.e. the thing he was looking for was right there under his nose all the time if only he'd known it. These cavils apart the film is a joy as well as a welcome antidote to the Texas Chainsaws of this world. Highly recommended.

sammas21 I highly recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. It is so adorable! It's about a little girl, Elsa, who goes on an excursion with an elderly man named Julien, who is searching for a rare butterfly known as Isabella. On their journey, the oddly paired couple learn more about each other and grow to become close friends. The dialogue is the best part of this movie; Elsa and Julien taunt each other with witty comebacks. Although only eight years old, Claire Bouanich is a very talented actress. The cameras love her, and so will you. If you're looking for a movie with a happy, feel-good ending, then "Le Papillon" is the one for you.