Madama Butterfly

Pjotr Sapegin's adaptation of Madama Butterfly beautifully animates the main points in the famous Opera by Giacomo Puccini. The story focuses around a Japanese woman who falls in love with an American man, who ultimately leaves her. The story concentrates on her attachment to the man she fell in love with and the baby they created together. She decides to stay in the same place and hold the same music player they used in hope of his return. Eventually, he does return, but he comes with his new wife and family. He returns to take away the daughter they made together. The child was physically connected by a string to Madama Butterfly. He forcefully tears the string breaking the last connection she had to a loved one. Once her child is taken away from her, she takes off each body part symbolizing a tragic death.

            I have never seen the Opera, but from looking at an online summary, I was able to understand the story even better. The animation was well detailed and included enough information to understand the defeat she ultimately suffered. Through the use of symbolism, the story is well understood. I believe that the butterfly symbolizes the love she has for him, because one he is gone, so is the butterfly. I also believe that the string attached to her daughter represents hope for his return. By attaching herself to her daughter, she is able to have at least a part of him connected to her. When he breaks the string, the hope of returning herself to her lost love has completely shattered.

Although the Opera is significantly longer, the animation contains enough detail to understand the pain she went through. The amount of work that went into this stop-motion animation is incredible. Each movement was shot individually. Overall, I think the animation was able to show the beautiful story of Madama Butterfly.