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Purple Butterfly (2003) (US Version) DVD Region 1

Zhang Ziyi (Actor) | Liu Ye (Actor) | Li Bing Bing (Actor) | Nakamura Toru (Actor)
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Purple Butterfly (2003) (US Version)

YesAsia Editorial Description

Directed by renowned Sixth Generation filmmaker Lou Ye, Purple Butterfly was the only Chinese film screened in competition at the 56th Cannes Film Festival. Set in 1930s Shanghai, the film stars top Mainland stars Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and Liu Ye (Curse of the Golden Flower), as well as Japanese actor Nakamura Tora. This big budget production follows the experiences of a female anti-resistance fighter who falls in love with the enemy.
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Technical Information

Product Title: Purple Butterfly (2003) (US Version) 紫蝴蝶 (美國版) 紫蝴蝶 (美国版) パープル・バタフライ （紫蝴蝶）（US版） Purple Butterfly (2003) (US Version)
Artist Name(s): Zhang Ziyi (Actor) | Liu Ye (Actor) | Li Bing Bing (Actor) | Nakamura Toru (Actor) | Feng Yuan Zheng (Actor) 章子怡 (Actor) | 劉燁 (Actor) | 李冰冰 (Actor) | 仲村亨 (Actor) | 馮遠征 (Actor) 章子怡 (Actor) | 刘烨 (Actor) | 李冰冰 (Actor) | 仲村亨 (Actor) | 冯远征 (Actor) 章子怡（チャン・ツィイー） (Actor) | 劉燁 （リウ・イエ）　 (Actor) | 李冰冰（リー・ビンビン） (Actor) | 仲村トオル (Actor) | Feng Yuan Zheng (Actor) 장쯔이 (Actor) | Liu Ye (Actor) | Li Bing Bing (Actor) | 나카무라 토오루 (Actor) | Feng Yuan Zheng (Actor)
Director: Lou Ye 婁燁 娄烨 Lou Ye Lou Ye
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Release Date: 2006-02-21
UPC Code: 660200310523
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Country of Origin: China
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Sound Information: Dolby Digital
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: 1 - USA, Canada, U.S. Territories What is it?
Package Weight: 100 (g)
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1004139956

Product Information

* Screen Format: Widescreen
* Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

Director: Ye Lou

1928, Manchuria. Itami, a young Japanese man, falls in love deeply with Cynthia, a beautiful Chinese girl. Their brief hapiness ends when he is called home for his military service and they are forced to part. Returning sorrowfully from the train station where she has bid her lover farewell, Cynthia witnesses her brother's bloody murder in the hands of Japanese right-wing extremists. Three years later, Shanghai has been unofficially occupied by the Japanese. The city is tensed, rifed with violence and barely contained anarchy. Cynthia - now known as Ding Hui - is working for Purple Butterfly, a resistance group planning to assassinate Yamamoto, head of the Japanese secret service. Itami is also in Shanghai, operating as a secret agent and reporting directly to Yamamoto. Arriving at Shanghai station to meet his fiance, Szeto, a young Chinese man, is mistaken by the assembled resistance fighters for the assassin they have engaged to eliminate Yamamoto. Violence erupts and Szeto's fiance is shot dead in the crossfire. Szeto escapes with the Purple Butterfly members, all of whom believe him to be the hired killer. Only Ding Hui realises the truth... Thus three destinies are linked by chance, and three fates set in tragic motion.
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Awards

This film has received 1 award nomination(s). All Award-Winning Asian Films

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This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Customer Review of "Purple Butterfly (2003) (US Version) "

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Average Customer Rating for All Editions of this Product: Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7.5 out of 10 (4)

Francisco Jose
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August 13, 2008

This customer review refers to Purple Butterfly (Hong Kong Version)
It's magic!! Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
Please, never mind the "messy" review, this movie is magic. It has more cinematic art and emotion than all the Occidental movies from the last years. Tender but hard, romantic but ruthless, idealised but down to earth. Movies like this certify the death of Occidental cinema, right now light years away from this powerful Oriental film-making, artistic and full of sentiment. Don't miss it!!
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Kevin Kennedy
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August 21, 2007

This customer review refers to Purple Butterfly (Hong Kong Version)
Kept me enthralled! Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9 out of 10
"Purple Butterfly" is a film about which viewers will have strong opinions, either positive or negative. It is a moody, atmospheric puzzle of a movie about efforts to resist the Japanese occupation of China. Set primarily in Shanghai in the 1930s, the film effectively evokes its time and place.

"Purple Butterfly" demands that the viewer be patient and let the filmmakers unfold their oblique, nonlinear story at a measured pace that some may find slow, but I found to be gripping. An attempt to describe the illusive plot would not be particularly helpful; the viewer must simply go along for the mysterious (and often violent) ride.

If you prefer a movie that has a tight, clearly delineated narrative structure, you likely will find "Purple Butterfly" to be trying. If you enjoy being immersed into a mysterious setting and trying to puzzle out what is going on, then this definitely is a film you will love.

I must add that the acting is uniformly excellent. Zhang Ziyi, Liu Ye, and Li Bingbing in particular are outstanding. Seeing Zhang Ziyi's stunning performance in the film's final scene, in which she is shown in mental preparation for the movie's climactic event, is worth the price of the movie. "Purple Butterfly" is highly recommended by your humble servant.
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Best Review
les
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July 18, 2006

This customer review refers to Purple Butterfly (VCD) (China Version)
Messy! Customer Review Rated Bad 1 - 1 out of 10
Slow, confusing, lots of prolonged meaningless shots!
Plot is not well developed. Most of the shots are either in the rain and in darkness. Murky! Don't recall seeing anyone with a tinge of smile;all like death walking. Gloomy as heck!
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Anonymous

March 12, 2005

This customer review refers to Purple Butterfly (DVD) (China Version)
Amazing movie Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
Zhang Ziyi is amazingly gorgeous in this movie and that's really saying something because just about EVERYTHING is amazingly gorgeous in this movie. :) It's a such a moving film about an intense, star-crossed love, almost like an Asian version of Casablanca. Besides the elements of love and loss, "Purple Butterfly" is an undeniably incredible war movie, beautifully portraying a generally unexamined piece of Chinese history. To the lovers of dramas, love stories, tales of war and historical films...I guarantee this movie has something for you.
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