Film commentary: The Butterfly Woman
Are we puppets?The
Questioning the film: The Butterfly Woman
To understand the story, the theme, to express one's sensibility and to exercise one's critical thinking.1 Who are the characters in the film?
The characters are puppets (also called marionettes, puppets or puppets).
2 How does a puppet work?
The members of the puppet such as arms or legs are attached to strings that are pulled.
3 What is the name of the person who manipulates a puppet?
A puppeteer.Puppeteers must be hidden to create the illusion that the puppets are alive and moving on their own.
4 What are puppets used for?
The history of puppets dates back to ancient Greece and they are traditionally used to tell stories in the form of plays.Polichinelle, a character from the Commedia dell'arte (15th century), is also one of the most famous puppets (burattini theatre).
5 Where does the action take place?
In a theatre.
6 What is the costume of the heroine of the film?
A butterfly.
7 What is special about this theatre?
Yes, the spectators are also puppets.
8 What happens in minute 2 of the film?
The strings of a spectator puppet break.
9 Why?
Because the spectator was clapping too loudly.
10 What does the puppet decide to do once he is free of his strings?
He joins the butterfly woman backstage in the theatre.
11 What does he discover backstage in the theatre?
He discovers many other puppets but also scissors.
12 What does he do with scissors?
He cuts the strings of the butterfly woman, probably to free her but, unlike him, she falls and cannot seem to move on her own.
13 What does he decide to do?
He decides to tie the strings again and to become the puppeteer.
Download PDF of the film's educational activities
Created with the support of the Ministry of Education and the CNC.Family viewing of the film, educational activities with parents at home and with teachers in class.
Making a puppet (Plastic arts) (Cycle 2 and 3)
Educational activities proposed by Dgedie from the Juliettes school based on the film La femme papillon.
Discover other educational sheets created with the support of the Ministry of Education and the CNC...
