La lengua
de las
mariposas
José Luis Cuerda (1999)
Information
Butterfly’s Tongue (Spanish: La lengua de las mariposas, or literally
it can also be translated as “The Language of the Butterflies”), is
a 1999 Spanish film directed by José Luis Cuerda. The film centers
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. It is based on Manuel Rivas’ short
story of the same name in his book ¿Qué me quieres, amor? (What
do you want, love?)
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.
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 since
that was the standard procedure back then, but he is relieved to
discover that Don Gregorio doesn’t hit his pupils. Don Gregorio
is unlike any other teacher; he builds a special relationship with
Moncho, teaching him to love learning. Don Gregorio also builds a
special relationship with Moncho’s father, who is a Republican like
him. Moncho’s mother is luke-warm towards the Republic, her main
concern being belief in God, and at the end of the film she sides
with the Nationalist rebels.
When fascists take control of the town, they round up known
Republicans, including Don Gregorio. Because of the fact that
Moncho’s father is a Republican, 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 (Galician for “proboscis”), a
favorite 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.
main Cast
Fernando Fernán Gómez - Don Gregorio
Manuel Lozano - Moncho
Elena Fernandez - Carmiña
Uxia Blanco - Rosa
Gonzalo Martín Uriarte - Ramón
Alexis de los Santos - Andrés
MAIN THEMES AND QUESTIONS
Politics
1. What is significant about the time at which the events take place?
2. Examine the importance of the social and cultural environment
in the film.
3. Why do you think Moncho shouts “espiritrompa” as Don Gregorio
is taken away? What is the significance of this?
Education
1. In the narrative, the role of the school and the teacher are
fundamental. Does the teacher hit his students? In your opinion
is this important to the story?
2. Ramon says “Los maestros no ganan lo que tendrían que ganar.”
Explain the meaning of these words. Do you think teacher had
an important social role in this time?
Coming of age
1. Who tells us the story? Do you think this is important?
2. Describe the character Moncho and explain the role he plays in
developing one of the themes of the film.
REFERENCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly’s_Tongue
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_lengua_de_las_mariposas
https://julianwhiting.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/butterfly-tongue-lengua_mariposas-spanish-study-guide.pdf