Amy Adler Young tween Pete (Marc Donato) has a brain tumor. Despite treatment, his prognosis is not good. Naturally, his beautiful mother, Teresa (Pascale Bussieres) is deeply sad but, she cannot help but admire her brave son. The lad is a winged-insect collector and his fondest wish is to go to the Costa Rican rainforest and catch a "blue butterfly", like his idol, Dr. Alan (William Hurt). So, even though the odds are stacked against them, Teresa takes Marc to one of the prof's lectures and begs him to take her son to Central America. At first, Alan demurs, in part because he states the season is over and the blue butterflies will not be numerous. Also, Al doesn't really connect well with people, especially children. Nevertheless, after realizing how much it means to Pete, Alan says yes. The journey into the rainforest is amazingly beautiful but rather treacherous, as some of the creatures are fierce. Pete and his mother makes friends with the native tribes that Alan knows well, for the prof has been there many times. But, their trek proves, initially, futile. Sensing that the noise of a large party might be a problem, Pete asks Alan if "just the two of them" can go looking, even though it might be dangerous. Al consents. Will the boy get his heart's desire before his illness defeats him? This is an astoundingly lovely film, very admirable. The fact that is it hardly known is a terrible shame. First, the cast is great, with Hurt giving one of his best performances ever, even considering his amazing body of work. Bussieres and Donato, too, are very touching while the supporting cast likewise does well. The beauty of the setting can not be overstated and the breathtaking close-ups of many of the rainforest's creatures has to be seen to be appreciated. Costumes, cinematography, script (based on a true story), and the skilled direction all work to make one very admirable movie. Therefore, be you a family in search of a flick for all members or someone who seeks out the finest of the finest, this movie is for everyone, the world over.

spj-4 I had never heard of this movie until I was flicking across the dial looking for something to watch. I wasn't expecting much, but found "The Blue Butterfly" pleasantly engaging & appealing.The cornerstone of its success lays in the amazing landscapes "The Blue Butterfly" is mostly shot in. It is a vividly colourful production & tells an intense story of a young boy dying of cancer, needing & seeking inspiration in his struggles for life, embarking on a journey that puts his illness into perspective. It is insightful, interesting & realistic in its depictions of interpersonal relationships - mother & son, boy & the man he looks up to, flawed but invaluable expert on insects whose knowledge of nature is only a tip of the iceberg into his deeper self & how he got to this place where he finds himself, where he can help & inspire the young boy in his adversity.Contrary to other opinions expressed, as an adult, I didn't find this a kid's movie, to be dismissed by some other's opinions that this movie is 'boring'. I did think it was far-fetched in one of the latter scenes, but note the comments indicating it was a true story. Only in this one incident, would I still question that. Personally, I consider it compared favourably with the other movie I watched tonight in "Dante's Peak", which I consider this unknown movie ran rings around! "Dante's Peak" is full of drama & action but so predictable & lacking plot! It was at best, ordinary.By contrast, I can understand that "The Blue Butterfly" would be especially helpful to children with cancer or other struggles with illnesses. It could encourage & inspire them in their unenviable situation most are privileged to be spared! But beyond that, "The Blue Butterfly" is an enjoyable family movie, with something in it for child & adult alike!

Dead_Mann its pretty good but then it has a few flaws, mainly acting, but still good........the photography was amazing and very very well done, the acting was kinda cheap, it was like the acting in most of these family films i guess, William Hurt was great too, but the little kid really annoyed me because he sucks at acting, and it also has a good story, and a good meaning among a few other flaws and some other things that are good about it.....so if you want to see a pretty good family film, you should check this one out

jaimiqo Yes, this was a project that I spent much time on, but the gang that we had in Costa Rica was excellent I really applaud them I love the people here. We put our hearts in this project. The rains had a lot to do worth our decision to build the whole village up three inches off the ground and apply a drainage system. In total I believe it was about 120 square meters. The Canadians were wonderful people and I praise Serge Bureau for his eyes and guidance. Thank you for the opportunity to work on such a wonderful film.We hope that many more people come to Costa Rica and film in the future.I have one of the best Art Departments there that I work with. Jaime Fernandez