La lengua de las mariposas (1999)

Director:

José Luis Cuerda

Writers:

Rafael Azcona (writer)
José Luis Cuerda (writer)

Release Date:

24 September 1999 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama | Music | War

Tagline:

A magical tale about growing up in country growing apart.

Plot:

For Moncho, it's an idyllic year: he starts school, he has a wonderful teacher, he makes a friend in Roque...

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Violence | Betrayal | Friend | Fascist

Awards:

5 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

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

Also Known As:

Butterfly's Tongue (Philippines: English title) (UK)
A Lingua das bolboretas (Spain: Galician title)
Butterfly (DVD title)
Butterfly Tongues (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for a strong sex scene.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

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:

Canal+ España

Soundtrack:

La orquesta azul

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.