Butterfly (1999)
"La lengua de las mariposas" (original title)

For Moncho, it's an idyllic year: he starts school, he has a wonderful teacher, he makes a friend in Roque, he begins to figure out some of the mysteries of Eros, and, with his older ... See full summary »

Director:

José Luis Cuerda

Writers:

Rafael Azcona, José Luis Cuerda,

Stars:

Fernando Fernán Gómez, Manuel Lozano, Uxía Blanco

6 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Fernando Fernán Gómez	...	Don Gregorio
Manuel Lozano	...	Moncho
Uxía Blanco	...	Rosa
Gonzalo Uriarte	...	Ramón
Alexis de los Santos	...	Andrés
Jesús Castejón	...	D. Avelino
Guillermo Toledo	...	O'Lis
Elena Fernández	...	Carmiña
Tamar Novas	...	Roque
Tatán	...	Roque Padre
Roberto Vidal Bolaño	...	Boal (as Roberto Vidal)
Celso Parada	...	Macias
Celso Bugallo	...	Cura
Antonio Lagares	...	Alcalde (as Tucho Lagares)
Milagros Jiménez	...	Nena

Storyline

For Moncho, it's an idyllic year: he starts school, he has a wonderful teacher, he makes a friend in Roque, he begins to figure out some of the mysteries of Eros, and, with his older brother, a budding saxophone player, he makes a trip with the band from their town in Galicia. But it's also the year that the Spanish Republic comes under fire from Fascist rebels. Moncho's father is a Republican as is the aging teacher, Don Gregorio. As sides are drawn and power falls clearly to one side, the forces of fear, violence, and betrayal alter profoundly what should be the pleasure of coming of age.

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Plot Keywords:

teacher | galicia | coming of age | saxophone | violence | 

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Taglines:

Stop and taste the world.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a strong sex scene

Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish Gallegan Latin

Release Date:

24 September 1999 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Butterfly

Filming Locations:

Ourense, Galicia, Spain

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$4,891 (Norway) (29 September 2000)

Gross:

$2,086,098 (USA) (6 October 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Canal+ España, Los Producciones del Escorpion, Sociedad General de Televisión (Sogetel)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"La orquesta azul"
Written & Directed by Ángel Illarramendi

User Reviews

A gorgeous blend of emotion and politics

It's a beautiful (and too rare) thing to witness a child actor who can avoid the saccharine cutesiness so common to mainstream American child actors. In this film full of children there are, happily, no cloying, exaggerated "cute kid" moments.

The real beauty of La lengua de las mariposas is what's unspoken -- the truths that remain between the lines. The film's political theme is never heavy-handed, and its vivid and fascinating depiction of a turbulent moment in Spanish history has inspired in me a desire to learn more. Without spoiling the ending (which I read as fairly subversive, at least to an American audience), I must say I wasn't entirely surprised at what happened. It brought a tear to my eye and it's still making me think, three days later.

Those who liked this film should also see La Vita e Bella (Life Is Beautiful) and La notte di San Lorenzo (Night Of Shooting Stars), which are similar and may appeal equally, if not more.