Film Review
La Chasse aux papillons is an engaging little comedy which begins as an enchanting portrait
of country life and concludes - with surprising brutally - as a cogent morality tale about the impermanence
of that way of life.
It is one of the more appealing works from the acclaimed Georgian director
Otar Iosseliani, whose idiosyncratic brand of cinema defies
categorisation and often leaves audiences bewildered. Other
interesting films that Iosseliani made during his self-imposed
exile in France include
Les Favoris de la lune (1984),
Et la lumière fut (1989)
and
Adieu, plancher des vaches! (1999).
The metaphor of the butterfly chase of the film's title proved to be
a highly appropriate one. The wealthy Japanese business men are effectively butterfly hunters who want
to seize a thing of beauty (in this case a French château) and add it to their collection.
But, in so doing, they end up destroying the charm that lured them to it in the first
place - like butterfly collectors they kill the thing they admire.
The quirky style of the film is a sophisticated variation on that of Jacques Tati's comedies
(such as
Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953)), where
all of the characters are viewed from a distance without any obvious
attempt at putting together a well structured story.
Events just unfold, seemingly randomly and without any purpose - as they often seem to in real life.
The pleasure in watching this film is not in understanding what has happened but in being
constantly surprised at what will happen next. Often, the sheer weirdness and unexpected
turns the film takes is in stark contrast to the naturalistic performances and stone sober
photography.
Whilst the film's lack of structure and surfeit of whimsy
can be occasionally frustrating,
La Chasse aux papillons does have a unique and irresistible charm.
© James Travers 2001
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Next Otar Iosseliani film:
Adieu, plancher des vaches! (1999)
Film Synopsis
Two old ladies, Marie-Agnès de Bayonnette and her cousin Solange, live in a chateau
in the French countryside. They represent a way of life that is perilously
close to disappearing. Already, the villagers have become accustomed to the presence
of Hari Krishna followers, and a group of wealthy Japanese business men are determined
to buy Marie-Agnès' château for their new company headquarters...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.