The Butterfly Tree (2017) User Reviews

Style over Substance

[ossie85 · 4/10 · 28 June 2022]

While the visuals and colour palette were interesting, they weren't enough to overcome the flaws of the film.

The film came across as unfocused, and the message was lost. Female characters seemed only to exist to tell the story of the male characters, whose strange fascination with Melissa George's character was used as an excuse for their own shortcomings.

Highly watchable

[christopher-underwood · 7/10 · 24 November 2020]

There is much here that is very easy on the eye. Indeed there are most beautiful shots of butterflies and other insects as well as the titular tree and more. The house and interior of the new girl in town is also sumptuous and suitably filmed, as is the new owner, an ex burlesque dancer. The snag here is that with so much that is so pretty and stylish, verging on the fantastical, there is something of a disconnect with the rather poignant story being told. This is simple enough with a father, his son, aforementioned exotic dancer and rather forward young lady at father's school but in the dreamlike and fantastically colourful sequences some of the intensity of the drama is lost. Good performances all round and a most unusual and beautiful Australian film, that looks anything but, in this ever golden light and an idyllic suburb reminiscent of some of those equally unreal 'burbs in certain US films. Highly watchable nevertheless.

A Beautiful and Colorful Apparition

[Blue-Grotto · 7/10 · 3 October 2017]

Al and Fin, father and teen son, are reeling from the loss of a beloved wife and mother. Each is dealing with the loss in a different way, yet in no way that is particularly constructive. Al is having an affair with a student and Fin is sulking in a cocoon of solitude. Neither is communicating. This is when Evelyn flits into town. She is a beautiful and colorful apparition wreathed in flowers, butterflies, exquisite jewelry and bubble bath. Al and Fin are so blinded by passion, be it grief or love, that they risk losing each other as well as the woman they seek.

The film is personal for the director who felt extreme grief and loneliness when a close friend died. While the actors lack assurance and chemistry between each other, the story is compelling and it flows together well. Queensland, Australia, is the perfect dream- scape setting for the film. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Unusual Australian drama, which combines dark themes with elements of beauty

[Red-Barracuda · 7/10 · 30 June 2018]

A father and son are in the midst of an uneasy relationship after the death of their wife/mother. Into this scenario enters an ex burlesque dancer who owns the local flower shop. Both males develop an infatuation for her as the seek recovery.

This Australian drama combines some beautiful colourful imagery which sometimes crosses into fantastic reality with a sombre and emotional story grounded in grim reality. As such it is quite an unusual combination but one which worked for me, with the sadder aspects of the story-line ramping up in the latter third. The issues touched upon include suicide, grief and cancer. Its pretty heavy stuff but well delivered by its small cast. Melissa George (who to me will forever be the mysterious Camilla Rhodes from the utterly seminal Mulholland Drive (2001)), puts in a great performance here as the character in which the whole story pivots. She introduces colour into the lives of the man and boy and acts as a springboard for them to move forward, even while she herself is going through a trauma. It could be said that the characterisations and connections are a little under-cooked somewhat perhaps, with little chemistry between George's character and the husband Al, but I thought she did work very well in tandem with Ed Oxenbould as the youngster who is infatuated with her. While it is a sombre film, played out in a minor key, it also has some bold and beautiful imagery of butterflies, flowers and Melissa George in burlesque gear and roller-skates. It all adds up to an unusual drama which deals with some heavy topics in a left-of-centre way.

Don't think just experience it

[waitandhope · 9/10 · 20 May 2018]

I saw this with no idea what it was about, just that it has cool colors and butterflies in it. This movie will confuse, bewilder, and entice you to imagine things you never could expect. It's not linear in the way you'd think, it's all over the place but shows us that everyone has their own life and it's never just about you. The brilliance of this movie is it's unique acceptance of all the crazy things people do or think, their stupidity and their charm. Worth watching once, don't think just experience it.

Like this movie total

[likangsun · 7/10 · 4 January 2022]

Hard life, nice color, desire the colorful life! Small man, gross man, true love always heavy! Butterfly, butterfly, short, intensive life! Hard life, nice color, desire the colorful life! Small man, gross man, true love always heavy! Butterfly, butterfly, short, intensive life! Hard life, nice color, desire the colorful life! Small man, gross man, true love always heavy! Butterfly, butterfly, short, intensive life!

Artistic movie.

[aravind787 · 10/10 · 11 April 2019]

Not sure why some people rated low. This is beautiful movie i have ever seen

💞💞💗💘💖💝really beautiful sad movie

[illy11-370-411498 · 10/10 · 13 April 2019]

Really love it. beautiful movie. pure love...

beautiful body, but destroied..... pure boy,pure Evelyn... amazing movie💝💝💟💟💟💟