Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that The Butterfly, which is an excellent French film about a girl who sneaks away from her absentee mother to go on a butterfly hunting adventure with a cranky grandfatherly lepidopterist, frankly discusses topics like abortion and teenage motherhood. Elsa, the precocious 9 year old who becomes friends with Julien, is a worldwise Parisian girl who is familiar with adult topics like these. There is some profanity throughout ("s--t," "damn"), but all-in-all, these two characters light up the screen, and the acting is so far above and beyond most children's movies, the end result is a touching film about the difficulties and joys of family and friendship, all set amidst the backdrop of both Paris and the butterfly-filled countryside.

Sexual Content

"Love making" is referenced.

Violence

A little girl is shown trapped at the bottom of a cave-like crevasse. A poacher hunts, shoots, and kills a deer. Characters make references to serial killers.

Language

"Damn," "Goddamn," and "s--t." A character is referred to as "scratching his balls."

Social Behavior

Beautiful friendships can develop, no matter the differences in age or backgrounds between people.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

At a dinner, adults are shown sipping wine.