Madama Butterfly tells the story of the young Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, who falls in love with the American naval officer Pinkerton. He marries her in Japan, but considers the marriage a temporary pleasure, while Butterfly sees it as a lifelong promise. After the wedding, Pinkerton returns to America, leaving Butterfly behind, who faithfully awaits his return. Three years later, he returns – but with his American wife. When Butterfly realizes that her dream of love and a life together has been shattered, she leaves their son with Pinkerton and chooses to take her own life.
This famous film version of Puccini's Madama Butterfly from 1974 is considered by many opera connoisseurs to be one of the finest opera films of all time. The production was directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, with Herbert von Karajan conducting. It stars the biggest stars of the time, such as Plácido Domingo, Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Robert Kerns and Michel Sénéchal.