Synopsis
The lead character in the film, , based on Puccini's opera, "Madame Butterfly," is a picture of tragedy for he is 'a man who has to live as a woman.' The same can be said of Marionette, the protagonist of the short animation film, . The song of 'Doll Marionette' is reminiscent of the popular Korean song, 'Man Is the Ship, Woman Is the Harbor.' The song flows throughout the film, at times, and the use of animation enables the film to push the limits of sexual expression with sorrowful results. With 15 years experience as a stage designer for the Russian Bolshov Opera Academy, the director's unique theatrical style is no wonder. The film is laid out as a stage production on the big screen. The director's crisscrossing in and out of the frame infuses a sense of experimentation into a well-known story. Throughout the film, the dramatic image of self-destruction is shocking, culminating in the final scene. The powerful delivery of the 'Doll Butterfly' would not have been possible save for the abundant expressive power of animation.(Jenna Ku)