Swallowtail Butterfly (1996) Suwarôteiru | Region-Free (Blu-Ray)

Title: Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)

Alternate Title: Suwarôteiru

Genre: Crime, Drama, Music, Science Fiction

Plot Synopsis:
Set in a near-future Japan, the story follows a group of immigrant outcasts living in a xenophobic metropolis known as “Yentown.” After a young girl’s mother dies, she is taken in by Glico, a brassy hooker, who names her “Ageha” (Butterfly). As Ageha becomes part of Glico’s eclectic group, they navigate the challenges of their marginalized existence, confronting issues of identity, belonging, and survival in an indifferent society.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Shunji Iwai
• Writer: Shunji Iwai
• Cast:
  • Hiroshi Mikami as Feihong
  • Chara as Glico
  • Ayumi Ito as Ageha
  • Yôsuke Eguchi as Ryou Ryanki
  • Andy Hui Chi-On as Maofuu

YouTube Trailer:
Swallowtail Butterfly |Trailer

IMDb Link:
Swallowtail Butterfly (1996)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. comrade_yui – ★★★★★
   “So many of my favorite films, Swallowtail Butterfly creates a whole fleshed-out visceral world that you have the blessing to exist in for a couple of hours. Shunji Iwai’s work here leads us into a life beyond nationality, race, class, beyond gender, beyond language. It’s a melancholic portrait of humans clinging together in an indifferent universe, a truly epic odyssey where you get to hear everyone’s stories, where every character gets to shine, where empathy allows us to travel to a fantastical place not too different from our own world.”
2. Marcissus – ★★★★★
   “Not only are all the characters in this unbelievably cool, they are relentlessly kind. The film portrays a world where, despite the harsh realities and struggles, there is an underlying current of kindness and humanity that binds the characters together.”
3. Robin Syversen – ★★★★☆
   “Swallowtail Butterfly is unlike anything you have ever seen, for better or for worse. If taken for what it is, you will get an extraordinary experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll. It’s an ambitious cult classic that offers a unique and immersive cinematic journey.”

Meta Description:
“Swallowtail Butterfly” (1996), directed by Shunji Iwai, is a Japanese crime drama that explores the lives of immigrant outcasts in a dystopian metropolis, delving into themes of identity, belonging, and survival.