La Chasse aux papillons (1992)
Directed by Otar Iosseliani

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.

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...