Butterfly (1999 film)
Encyclopedia
Butterfly's Tongue is the English language DVD release title for (Spanish The Tongue of the Butterflies), a 1999 Spanish film directed by José Luis Cuerda
. The film centres on Moncho (Manuel Lozano) and his coming-of-age experience in Galicia in 1936. Moncho develops a close relationship with his teacher Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernán Gómez
) who introduces the boy to different things in the world. While the story centres on Moncho's ordinary coming-of-age experiences, tensions related to the looming Spanish Civil War
periodically interrupt Moncho's personal growth and daily life.
The film is adapted from 3 short stories from the book "" by Galician author Manuel Rivas
. The short stories are "", "", and "Carmiña".
The film received some critical acclaim. It was nominated for the 2000 Goya Award for "Best Picture" and it won the Goya Award for "Best Adapted Screenplay." Butterfly's Tongue also has a 96% rating on RottenTomatoes.com.
When fascists take control of the town, they round up known Republicans, including Don Gregorio. Moncho's father is also a Republican, and his family fears that he too will be taken away in the purge if the fascists discover his political leanings. In order to protect themselves, the family goes to the town square to jeer the captured Republicans as they are paraded out of the court house and boarded onto a truck. The film ends with Moncho, despite his continued great affection for his friend and teacher, yelling hateful things and throwing rocks at Don Gregorio and the other Republicans, as instructed by his mother, as the truck carries them away, although the last thing Moncho yells are the words for the tongue of a butterfly, espiritrompa (literally "spirotube" or proboscis
, in Spanish), a favourite word taught to him by Don Gregorio in an attempt to let his dear friend know that he does not truly mean the words he is yelling.
José Luis Cuerda
José Luis Cuerda is a Spanish film director, screenwriter and producer.He has produced three films of Alejandro Amenábar .-Filmography as Film Director:* 1982 - Pares y nones...
. The film centres on Moncho (Manuel Lozano) and his coming-of-age experience in Galicia in 1936. Moncho develops a close relationship with his teacher Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernán Gómez
Fernando Fernán Gómez
Fernando Fernán-Gómez was a Spanish actor and director. He was born in Lima, Peru as his mother, Spanish actress Carola Fernán-Gómez, was making a tour of Latin America. Inheriting his surname as a stage name, he moved to Spain in 1924.After the Spanish Civil War he began a study of Law but...
) who introduces the boy to different things in the world. While the story centres on Moncho's ordinary coming-of-age experiences, tensions related to the looming Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
periodically interrupt Moncho's personal growth and daily life.
The film is adapted from 3 short stories from the book "" by Galician author Manuel Rivas
Manuel Rivas
Manuel Rivas is a Galician writer, poet and journalist. He began his career in some Spanish newspapers like El Ideal Gallego, La Voz de Galicia, El Pais, and was the sub-editor of Diario 16 in Galicia...
. The short stories are "", "", and "Carmiña".
The film received some critical acclaim. It was nominated for the 2000 Goya Award for "Best Picture" and it won the Goya Award for "Best Adapted Screenplay." Butterfly's Tongue also has a 96% rating on RottenTomatoes.com.
Cast
- Fernando Fernán GómezFernando Fernán GómezFernando Fernán-Gómez was a Spanish actor and director. He was born in Lima, Peru as his mother, Spanish actress Carola Fernán-Gómez, was making a tour of Latin America. Inheriting his surname as a stage name, he moved to Spain in 1924.After the Spanish Civil War he began a study of Law but...
as Don Gregorio - Manuel Lozano as Moncho
- Elena FernandezElena FernándezElena Fernández is a Spanish actress.Elena is best known for her roles in films , directed by Gonzalo Suarez and distributed by Pedro Almodóvar, and the award-winning La lengua de las mariposas, distributed internationally as Butterfly's Tongue or Butterfly.Elena is also widely recognized from...
as Carmiña - Uxia Blanco as Rosa
- Gonzalo Martín Uriarte as Ramón
- Alexis de los Santos as Andrés
Plot
In a Galician town, a young boy, Moncho, goes to school for the first time and is taught by Don Gregorio about life and literature. At first Moncho is very scared that the teachers will hit him, as that was the standard procedure then, but after his first day at school, he is relieved that Don Gregorio doesn't hit his pupils. Don Gregorio is unlike any other teacher, and he builds a special relationship with Moncho, and teaches him to love learning.When fascists take control of the town, they round up known Republicans, including Don Gregorio. Moncho's father is also a Republican, and his family fears that he too will be taken away in the purge if the fascists discover his political leanings. In order to protect themselves, the family goes to the town square to jeer the captured Republicans as they are paraded out of the court house and boarded onto a truck. The film ends with Moncho, despite his continued great affection for his friend and teacher, yelling hateful things and throwing rocks at Don Gregorio and the other Republicans, as instructed by his mother, as the truck carries them away, although the last thing Moncho yells are the words for the tongue of a butterfly, espiritrompa (literally "spirotube" or proboscis
Proboscis
A proboscis is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal, either a vertebrate or an invertebrate. In simpler terms, a proboscis is the straw-like mouth found in several varieties of species.-Etymology:...
, in Spanish), a favourite word taught to him by Don Gregorio in an attempt to let his dear friend know that he does not truly mean the words he is yelling.