Saturday Morning Cartoons: “La Femme Papillon” and “le Cadeau du Temps”

I think La Femme Papillon is a good example of how knowing too much can mar an otherwise fine film.

The marionette whose strings are cut only to become lifeless is a pretty common trope in puppetry. Because I know how marionettes work this story had a completely different meaning for awhile. Since the characters were all moving in ways that a string puppet can't, I thought they had their own volition, until the little bird man cut the butterflies strings and she became lifeless. Then I was sad because it was just the same old story again.

Hi Mary,

Funny -- I actually put off showing it for a while because it's clear where it's going....but even so the design and atmosphere made me enjoy watching it a few times so I included it. But thanks for your discerning eye and insider thoughts -- keeping things honest. ;-)