José Luis Cuerda (1999)

La lengua de las

mariposas

Information

Plot

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.

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.

Plot

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

Education

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?

Coming of age

REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly’s_Tonguehttps://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_lengua_de_las_mariposashttps://julianwhiting.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/butterfly-tongue-lengua_mariposas-spani-sh-study-guide.pdf

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.

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?