Simply Perfect

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Young tween Pete (Marc Donato) has a brain tumor. Despite treatment, his prognosis is not good. Naturally, his beautiful mother, Teresa (Pascale Bussieres) is deeply sad but, she cannot help but admire her brave son. The lad is a winged-insect collector and his fondest wish is to go to the Costa Rican rainforest and catch a "blue butterfly", like his idol, Dr. Alan (William Hurt). So, even though the odds are stacked against them, Teresa takes Marc to one of the prof's lectures and begs him to take her son to Central America. At first, Alan demurs, in part because he states the season is over and the blue butterflies will not be numerous. Also, Al doesn't really connect well with people, especially children. Nevertheless, after realizing how much it means to Pete, Alan says yes. The journey into the rainforest is amazingly beautiful but rather treacherous, as some of the creatures are fierce. Pete and his mother makes friends with the native tribes that Alan knows well, for the prof has been there many times. But, their trek proves, initially, futile. Sensing that the noise of a large party might be a problem, Pete asks Alan if "just the two of them" can go looking, even though it might be dangerous. Al consents. Will the boy get his heart's desire before his illness defeats him? This is an astoundingly lovely film, very admirable. The fact that is it hardly known is a terrible shame. First, the cast is great, with Hurt giving one of his best performances ever, even considering his amazing body of work. Bussieres and Donato, too, are very touching while the supporting cast likewise does well. The beauty of the setting can not be overstated and the breathtaking close-ups of many of the rainforest's creatures has to be seen to be appreciated. Costumes, cinematography, script (based on a true story), and the skilled direction all work to make one very admirable movie. Therefore, be you a family in search of a flick for all members or someone who seeks out the finest of the finest, this movie is for everyone, the world over.

It was sheer unexpected chance that I caught the last segment of "The Blue Butterfly" one Tueday late afternoon in June on cable Encore channel. It's 'based on a true story.' Quite an encouraging factor. And I was lucky enough to again catch this little known William Hurt movie (a 2004 Canadian-made film) when Encore repeated its showing. What a treat. Tear-jerker, in a way, with the story about this terminally ill young boy determined to pursue the Blue Butterfly with his ideal collaborator - an entomologist he adored and believed in, for the mythical quest of a journey deep into the jungles of Costa Rica! Yes, sounds like a Disney adventure and family drama, as the boy's single-mother also went along to provide moral if not physical support to her son's dying wish, literally.If you try to dissect the film or compare it with other movies, you're doing yourself a disfavor. Just go along with the trio: our young hero Pete in his wheel-chair (well-portrayed with such simple ease by Canada's popular seasoned young actor, Marc Donato), his French-accent attractive Mom who stands by his wishes (she looks familiar - it's Pascale Bussières in w-d Patricia Rozema's "When Night Is Falling" 1995 Canadian production), and the passionate nature man Mr. Osborne, who does care inside though ill-at-ease on the surface with the resolute boy (another William Hurt never-disappoint performance).And what's not to like: location shooting takes you into the rain forest of Costa Rica - it does feel like going through a National Geographics sojourn - remarkable close-ups of insects, fascinating nature captures and lush landscape scenes. Capable cinematography by Pierre Mignot and skillful editing by Michel Archand. Comparable screenplay by Pete McCormack, based on true events, with dramatic elements infused for film-goers' sake. Decent direction by Léa Pool (of "Lost and Delirious" - a controversial subject film which may not be for everyone, with intense performance by 'Coyote Ugly' talented Piper Perabo), who kept the dramatic tones non-sappy, and the adventure segments, the core relationship between the entomologist father-figure and the singularly-minded boy comfortable to follow. The ending notation - which is no spoiler - letting the viewers know what became of the terminally ill young boy, is definitely uplifting and life affirming. Yes, miracles do occur. (I have Lani Hall's song from her 'Sweet Bird' album, 'That's When Miracles Occur' singing in my head. "Love you're giving you must give away" and " Make sure you risk everything" - the lyrics sure ring true in this film.) Unobtrusive music (integral native rhythms, too) by Stephen Endelman, exquisite (nature) sound design by Ivan Sharrock and visual effects supervised by Gunnar Hansen all enhance the film experience."The Blue Butterfly" is a movie worth watching. Glad that Encore encores its showings on cable. It's also available on DVD, which included fascinating bonus features (from 10 to 18 minutes variety): there's interview with the real life 'Pete' - David Marenger, story about young David and the real 'Osborne' - French entomologist Georges Brossard of 'Fondateur Insectarium De Montreal'. See "Mariposa Azul: A True Story" with executive producer Francine Allaire, "The True Inspiration" and "About A Butterfly Garden" with David, and "The Actors' Experience" with Bussières, Donato, Hurt (he explained why he liked the dream sequence idea, and his observations of Georges) on their portrayals and on set anecdotes, including venturous Georges (who showed and told us about the 'big' bugs!), of course.

The Blue Butterfly is 'inspired by a true story.' The true story involves a young boy apparently ill with terminal cancer, who goes to the South American jungle with a renowned entomologist in search of a blue butterfly. When they return, the boy's cancer has disappeared.The facts of the true story are dramatic and emotional moving. There is no need to embroider them. But that is just what the filmmakers do.I'm guessing, but my feeling is that what we see in the movie that is not in the original story is: (1) The scientist did not have a long-lost daughter (2) There was no romantic connection between the boy's Mum and the scientist (2) No little villager girl actually connected with the boy, or caught the blue butterfly (4) The scientist did not fall down a hole, forcing the boy to make his own way through the jungle.A boy goes to the jungle and comes back cured of cancer - but the story is deemed not 'dramatic' enough by the idiots who pose as story experts in Hollywood. This film is a schmaltzy, overblown insult to the intelligence. Great stories are not about ticking off the boxes in some script reader's manual. There is a genuine, uplifting tale buried in this film, that somehow got lost as each executive decided to burp out a script note after lunch. The end result is an unedifying, distasteful meringue of a film. I was insulted.

This film is about a 10 year old boy with a terminal brain tumor whose last wish is to catch a blue butterfly that lives in the forests of South and Central America. He and his mother convince a begrudgely naturalist/scientist/insect collector to let them tag along with him on one of his expeditions. They stay in a small village in the jungle, where not only do they encounter all sorts of wildlife, and learn about the culture of the indigenous people, but also learn about each others weaknesses and fears and relationships develop along with a bit of magic. I saw this movie on TV with my 8 year old son, I felt it had a lot of important things to teach him about humanity and nature: wildlife, disease, relationships, other cultures, other perceptions of reality, other lifestyles. It might be a bit corny for adults to watch on their own, but I felt its message was positive and profound for younger people. I also liked its slower pace, which was not boring because of all the beautiful scenery. My recommendation is rent it for your kids.