Madame Butterfly (1992)

Pinkerton’s house, near Nagasaki.

Goro, a marriage broker, is showing Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, over the house which Pinkerton has bought for his bride-to-be, Cio-Cio-San, a geisha known as Madame Butterfly. He is about to marry her in accordance with the Japanese law which holds that the husband’s absence, even for so short a time as a month, constitutes a divorce. The first wedding guest to arrive is Sharpless, the American Consul, who begs him not to enter into the marriage so lightly, as he has learned that Butterfly has taken the irrevocable step of renouncing her religion. Pinkerton, however, cannot believe that a mere geisha girl would take the ceremony seriously.

Butterfly, followed by her friends and family, arrives and the marriage contract is signed. Suddenly, the Bonze, her uncle, appears and denounces her for having forsaken her religion. All turn from her in horror and curse her as they depart. Pinkerton consoles his wife and in spite of his cynicism finds himself, for the first time, seriously involved with Butterfly who makes her great love clear to all except Pinkerton himself.

Inside the house. Three years later.

Pinkerton has been recalled to America shortly after his marriage. Butterfly is so excited at the news of her husband’s return that Sharpless has no opportunity to tell her of the tragic truth. Three years later, Butterfly is living alone, practically impoverished, with her faithful Suzuki. In spite of Suzuki’s disbelief, Butterfly is sure of Pinkerton’s return and refuses an offer of marriage from Prince Yamadori who has loved her for years. Butterfly tells him that she considers herself bound by the laws of her husband’s country and Yamadori leaves her. Sharpless, who has been present during this scene, has brought a letter from Pinkerton announcing that he is returning to Nagasaki with an American wife and asking Sharpless to break the blow to come. He tries to persuade her to accept Yamadori’s offer but she shows him Pinkerton’s child and insists that this is security enough for his return. Deeply moved, and unable to bring himself to deliver his message, Sharpless leaves her. The harbor cannon is heard. It is Pinkerton’s ship, the Abraham Lincoln. In a fever of excitement, Butterfly and Suzuki decorate the house with flowers in honor of his arrival and, as night falls, settle down to wait for him.

Inside the house. The next morning.

As dawn breaks, the calls of the sailors are heard from the harbor. Butterfly is still waiting and watching for Pinkerton. Suzuki persuades her to go and rest. Sharpless arrives with Pinkerton and Kate, his American wife. Pinkerton, realizing the strength of Butterfly’s devotion, is filled with remorse and rushes out, leaving Kate and Sharpless to meet Butterfly. They beg Suzuki to prepare her mistress for the coming blow and tell her that Kate wishes to adopt her husband’s son. Butterfly learns the truth from Kate and asks that Pinkerton shall come himself to fetch the child. Left alone, she takes a last farewell of her son and kills herself.