Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

142 mins | Music | July 10, 2004

Japan, early twentieth century. U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton inspects the house he has leased from a marriage broker. The broker, Goro, has procured him three servants and a geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. He is enchanted with the fragile Cio-Cio-San. Cio-Cio-San is heard in the distance joyously singing of her wedding. In a quiet moment, Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom her few earthly treasures and tells him of her intention to embrace his Christian faith. The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San's uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in, cursing the girl for having renounced her ancestors' religion. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, her husband dries her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.

Madama Butterfly

142 mins | Music | July 10, 2004

Madama Butterfly
Japan, early twentieth century. U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton inspects the house he has leased from a marriage broker. The broker, Goro, has procured him three servants and a geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. He is enchanted with the fragile Cio-Cio-San. Cio-Cio-San is heard in the distance joyously singing of her wedding. In a quiet moment, Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom her few earthly treasures and tells him of her intention to embrace his Christian faith. The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San's uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in, cursing the girl for having renounced her ancestors' religion. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, her husband dries her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.
Producers Arthaus Musik
Original title Madama Butterfly
Directors George Blume, Franco Zeffirelli
Writers

Cast

Mina Blum

as Kate Pinkerton

Carlo Bosi

as Goro, a matchmaker

Fiorenza Cedolins

as Cio-Cio-san (Madama Butterfly)

Francesco Franci

as Suzuki, her maid

Marcello Giordani

as B. F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant in the United States Navy

Juan Pons

as Sharpless, United States consul at Nagasaki

Carlo Striuli

as The Bonze, Cio-Cio-san's uncle

Alessandro Battiato

as Prince Yamadori

Angelo Nardinocchi

as The Imperial Commissioner

Giovanni Scordino

as The Official Registrar

Veronica Simeoni

as Cio-Cio-san's mother

Maria Letizia Grosselli

as The cousin