Review of M. Butterfly (1993) by Lin F — 30 Aug 2007

Despite being a HUGE Cronenberg fan, I had never seen this (mostly due to its unavailability on DVD, for shame). Viewed as something of an anomoly in his canon, it's certainly in many ways quite unlike anything the great man has attempted before or since.

However, the archetypal Cronenbergian obsession - the ongoing dialogue and split between the mind and the body - is still given a workout, explored in an unusual context that makes the film a solid and interesting companion piece to the director's better-known films.

It may miss a few beats - notably in the lack of heat between the two leads and the obviousness of it's crucial secret - but this is far more than the mis-step in Cronenberg's career it's often dismissed as.