Le Papillon traces the path of a character searching for happiness. Once he has achieved his goal, the film continues, but the action ends. Peaceful music then comes to soothe the spectator, who contemplates the animated tableau of a happy-end-without-an-end : which may be happy for the character, but will probably soon bore the person watching. In order to escape from this boredom, the latter then has the possibility of launching the action. The character questions his life and seeks a new form of existence, becoming a politician, priest, or vagabond...

Le Papillon takes on the stylised form of a fable. It is therefore mute, yet there is a soundtrack. The rare dialogues assume the form of intertitles and sounds are present, participating in the narrative. After each episode, the spectators can intervene once again and vicariously relive the exaltation of a life change, by reintroducing their hero at will into a new and destabiling narrative.

Translated by Anna Knight