Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsLa lengua de las mariposas (1999) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Rafael Azcona (writer)
José Luis Cuerda (writer)
more
Release Date:
24 September 1999 (Spain) more
Tagline:
A magical tale about growing up in country growing apart. more
Plot:
For Moncho, it's an idyllic year: he starts school, he has a wonderful teacher, he makes a friend in Roque... more | add synopsis
Awards:
5 wins & 19 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Beautiful New Photos from Alejandro Amenábar's Agora
(From FirstShowing.net. 9 May 2009, 4:45 AM, PDT)
First Promo Trailer for Alejandro Amenábar's Agora
(From FirstShowing.net. 22 February 2009, 8:06 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Certain difficulties for non-Spanish audiences, but worth the effort more (37 total)
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 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Butterfly's Tongue (Philippines: English title) (UK)
A Lingua das bolboretas (Spain: Galician title)
Butterfly (DVD title)
Butterfly Tongues (USA)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for a strong sex scene.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R
Company:
Fun Stuff
Soundtrack:
La orquesta azul more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (37 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for La lengua de las mariposas (1999) moreRecommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Novecento | La historia oficial | If.... | Die Blechtrommel | El Bola |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb Spain section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

Among recent Spanish films - and I refer to the last twenty five years -there has been some tendency towards an intimistic approach which rather limits deeper comprehension and the ability to grasp essential concepts for non-Spanish audiences, whether the film is dubbed or subtitled into English or not, or even for Spanish speaking people in Latin America. This causes certain difficulties, similar to what happens when European or North American audiences try to comprehend Chinese or Japanese films requiring knowledge of their history, culture, mores and values. This has certainly been the case with `Las Ratas' (1998) directed by Giménez Rico, and to some degree with other Spanish masterpieces such as `El Sur' (1982), `Los Santos Innocentes' (1984), and to a lesser extent with `El Abuelo' (1999) - reviewed elsewhere in IMDb. Perhaps for general audiences `La Plaza del Diamante' (1981, Francisco Beltrú), `Últimas Tardes con Teresa' (1983, Gonzalo Herralde), and `Las Bicicletas son para el Verano' (1983, Jaime Chávarri) are rather more accessible, but even so many nuances might be lost. This may well happen to many audiences watching the film known as `Butterfly' in English. The story is set in the north western region of Galicia during the winter and spring preceeding the outbreak of the Civil War, and told through the eyes of a little boy - Moncho (Manuel Lozano) - a tailor's son and younger brother of a would-be saxophonist. The film is a point-counterpoint on the values of friendship, loyalty and other feelings so common to ordinary townspeople living their easy and uncomplicated village lives, values which just break down under fear. You have to understand certain principles of Spanish behaviour veering from foolhardy courageousness to outright cowardice, from close friendship to open hostility, superbly summed up in the close-up final shot of Moncho's face, half angry and embittered, half bewildered and confused, as the lorry drives away. Fernando Fernán-Gómez is masterful as the lonely schoolteacher and Manuel Lozano as Moncho is definitely something very special. Watch out for Fernán-Gómez directing Manuel Lozano in `Lázaro de Tormes' (based on an anonymous medieval tale) and José Luis Garci directing him in `You're The One" (both 2000). `La Lengua de las Mariposas' is also highly recommendable for its beautiful photography in the lushly wooded green hills and valleys around Allariz and the River Arnoia in Ourense, one of the four provinces of Galicia. Worth 8 out of 10.