The Butterfly is set in the not-too distant future, in a Korea which looks only vaguely familiar. Acid rain and lead poisoning have created new dangers for the population, while the outbreak of a mysterious virus has perversely resulted in a new tourist industry. This so-called Oblivion Virus causes no physical harm, but it erases the memory of its victims. Henceforth a wave of ‘tourists’ begins to flow into the country; people suffering from awful memories, hoping to start their lives over. Anna Kim is one of these travelers; the film charts her return to Korea after living in Germany most of her life. Rather than emphasize her search for the virus, the film concentrates on the relationship she develops with her guide — a teenage girl — and her driver. The time she spends with them changes her, leading her down paths she wasn’t expecting. –koreanfilm.org
