Maybe a Butterfly?

   First off, my initial reaction after the movie ended was complete shock. I didn't see the undercover espionage coming...I was blinded by their "love". Song was definitely not a "butterfly" after all. I also thought Rene was despicable for starting an affair with another woman. 
From my three reactions above themes of politics and love come to mind. Although Rene seemed very kind and humble in the beginning of the film, the power of love changed his personality. He was willing to sneak around his wife, whom I assume he loved, to see his lover. Rene and Butterfly's love seemed unbreakable (even though scandalous as it was). Their love was so strong it even made Rene leave his wife most nights to be with Butterfly. Love is a very powerful thing and the abuse of love during this film both by Rene to his wife and Butterfly to Rene became very political. Close to the end of the film Butterfly's true identity was exposed to Rene and all of France. This exposure was as much devastating to Rene as Rene was to his wife. Rene loved Butterfly, not his true identity, so much and the betrayal was a process of karma from Rene's wife to Rene. Love can sometimes make a person blind to actual reality. This happened to Rene. It wasn't until the revealing of Butterfly's true identity did he finally see that this love was some what fake/pretend. This love was so true and pure from the beginning...but is it still true after the reveal? 
   On the other hand, as powerful as love is, politics tore it apart. The act of espionage takes an ordeal of commitment. Song (a.k.a. Butterfly) took on the likes of a woman to get political information. The power of politics is a great competitor to the powers of love within this film. These two themes go back and forth throughout the movie. It seemed like Song was still truly in love with Rene during their car ride over to prison. Song stripped his clothes and exposed his entire body finally to Rene, after Rene denied him disgustedly Song broke down to his knees in tears. Thus, the power of politics seems to travail in this film over the damaged love between Rene and Song. 


Will there ever be peace and coexistence between these two conflicting ideas of love and politics????