This animated short by Pjotr Sapegin is inspired by Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. The puppet Butterfly lives alone on an island, until a white ship brings the handsome sailor Pinkerton. They become passionate lovers. Eventually his ship leaves, and Butterfly waits longingly for her lover to return. She feels an ocean of life growing in her belly. The ocean swells, and a small, unprotected mussel washes up on the shores of her body. He soon grows into a beautiful child. But when Pinkerton finally returns, he tears away Butterfly's child, dashing all her hopes. Butterfly can only find comfort in …
This animated short by Pjotr Sapegin is inspired by Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. The puppet Butterfly lives alone on an island, until a white ship brings the handsome sailor Pinkerton. They become passionate lovers. Eventually his ship leaves, and Butterfly waits longingly for her lover to return. She feels an ocean of life growing in her belly. The ocean swells, and a small, unprotected mussel washes up on the shores of her body. He soon grows into a beautiful child. But when Pinkerton finally returns, he tears away Butterfly's child, dashing all her hopes. Butterfly can only find comfort in death... but how is a puppet to die?
Aria, Pjotr Sapegin, provided by the National Film Board of Canada