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Purple Butterfly

Play trailer Poster for Purple Butterfly R,  2004,  2h 7m,  Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 43% 21 Reviews Tomatometer 45% 1,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
43% Tomatometer 21 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In the 1930s Shanghai, a man gets involved in a Japanese agent's plot to trap Chinese resistance fighters.
Purple Butterfly

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Ye Lou's Purple Butterfly is atmospheric and moody, but the story is frustratingly muddled.

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Critics Reviews

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G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle Feb 25, 2005
4/4
At the center of it all is, of course, Zhang. Charismatic and intense, she excels in her most grown-up role to date. Go to Full Review
Ty Burr Boston Globe Jan 21, 2005
1.5/4
There are two movies battling for supremacy in Butterfly, and both lose. As does the audience. Go to Full Review
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times Jan 13, 2005
4/5
As atmospheric and moody as a film noir, the stylish, sometimes perplexing Purple Butterfly is a remarkable period piece, evoking the bustling, dense and increasingly dangerous Shanghai of the '30s. Go to Full Review
Luke Y. Thompson New Times May 28, 2005
The plot may be a little hard to follow, but the film-making is skillful and any effort on the viewer's part is well worth it Go to Full Review
Phil Villarreal Arizona Daily Star Feb 2, 2005
1.5/4
Just like nuclear energy, long cinematic pauses can be used properly for the benefit of all, while in the wrong hands they can cause mass misery. Go to Full Review
Brent Simon Now Playing Magazine Jan 20, 2005
C
An at times pretty but nonetheless forgettable film. Go to Full Review
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Purple Butterfly

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Ye Lou

Director

Zhang Ziyi

Cynthia

Ye Liu

Situ

Feng Yuanzheng

Xie Ming

Tôru Nakamura

Hidehiko Itami

Li Bingbing

Tang Yiling

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Purple Butterfly

Poster Art Purple Butterfly (2003) Purple Butterfly (2003) Purple Butterfly (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1930s Shanghai, a man gets involved in a Japanese agent's plot to trap Chinese resistance fighters.
Director
Ye Lou
Producer
Zhu Yongde, Wang Wei
Screenwriter
Ye Lou
Distributor
Palm Pictures
Rating
R (Scene of Sexuality|Strong Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 26, 2004, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 15, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA)
$16.1K
Runtime
2h 7m
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