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THE MOVIE
We first meet Eunice (Amanda Plumber) wandering the highway stopping at a gas station where she asks for Judith. When Judith is not to be found Eunice unleashes a murderous rage. A similar pattern seems to be playing itself out when Eunice stops at the gas station that Miriam (Saskia Reeves) works at but Miriam’s response to Eunice’s unhinged behaviour soothes the savage beast within. Miriam could not be more a contrast to Eunice, shy and retiring, Miriam is an innocent, a life that has not really started, whereas Eunice is almost a life the world cannot contain, who rails at a God who will not punish her for her crimes. Miriam is drawn to Eunice, much like a moth to a flame, and an unlikely love affair blossoms between them, which threatens to destroy them both.
Butterfly Kiss was one of Michael Winterbottom’s first films and it was written by long time collaborator Frank Cottrell Boyce (though tragically they have currently fallen out to such an extent that Boyce had a pseudonym, Martin Handy, used for his credit on their latest collaboration Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story ) and shot by Seamus McGarvey.
This is a powerful, confronting and affecting film with Winterbottom's direction realising strong performances from his entire cast. In particular Amanda Plumber is simply extraordinary as Eunice.
THE TRANSFER
Video:
The video transfer is presented in 1.33:1 format (bit rate ). The film was shot in 1.85:1 and so what you are watching is a pan and scan version of the film. However appears to be a problem common to all versions of the film currently on DVD, which is a shame. The print itself has not been restored and as a result colours are muted, the print is dark, heavy grain and video artefacts abound and details are very variable.
Audio:
A basic audio track is provided (bit rate 192 kbps). Dialogue is clear and distinct but there are lip synching problems at one point. The score and other audio effects are a little on the thin side.
THE EXTRAS
There are no extras on the disc. Other zones get a similarly bare bones disc.
SUMMARY
Butterfly Kiss, starring Amanda Plumber and Saskia Reeves as Eunice and Miriam two women who have an unlikely love affair that threatens to destroy them both. Plumber is extraordinary as Eunice in a performance that takes her from one emotional extreme to another. The DVD is bare bones with a fairly ordinary video transfer but Winterbottom’s direction and the performances he gets out of his two leads definitely make it worth checking out. |
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