BUTTERFLY - DVD Movie

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You may think historical knowledge is needed; actually, though it helps, not exactly necessary. The film skillfully tells a chain of episodes about a Chinese girl (with whom elder brother falls in love) or a woman who seems more attracted to her dog than to her lover. But the most impressive scene is, as everyone would agree, the heart-rending ending. Probably, interpretation of the scene in point would differ among viewers (listen the boy's last word; it's the key), but as to its stunning reality revealing the innate weakness of human beings, no one would disagree. Is the friendship between the boy and the teacher really ended? The director, I think, took the best course, leaving the answer up to us. Mine is that it is a hopeful one. The teacher knows, and underdstands, the kid had to do it. I'd like to think so.

The film's script was made from Manuel Rivas's original book, collection of short stories, and the film used several stories to compose the whole story, so this process may explain a little slack development of the film. Sometimes "Butterfly" suffers from a loose connection between rather irrelevant episodes, but it is saved by its wonderful photography capturing the beauty of the country. Remember, the story is slow, but the entire film finally makes up for it. It is sad, but not without hope.

One thing more: the film's music was composed by Alejandro Amenabar, director of "Open Your Eyes" (later remade as "Vanilla Sky") and "The Others." He is responsible for the music of those two movies, too.

15 of 15 found the following review helpful:

Childhood Innocence Abused By Political StrifeJan 21, 2007
By Grady Harp
'La Lengua de las mariposas' (BUTTERFLY) is a small miracle of a film, one of those magical experiences that reminds us about the beauty of life but also about the realities of living in a world ruled by politics and adversity and how all of that affects the vulnerable child. The Spanish title refers to the tongue of the butterfly that must trust the throat of a flower to deliver its nectar and at the same time the flower must trust the deliverer of its procreation. And there is much to be found in that brief title.

The time is 1936 in the region of Galicia in Spain when the country is on the verge of a civil war. We meet Moncho (Manuel Lozano, an amazing child actor) who is also known as Sparrow, who lives with his tailor father and housewife mother and older brother Andrés (Alexis de los Santos) who plays the saxophone. Moncho is to begin school and is terrified of being ridiculed because of the breathing apparatus he must carry to treat his asthma. But to school he goes and there he is taken under the wing of the kind old teacher Don Gregorio (the brilliant Fernando Fernán Gómez) who gently introduces Moncho to the finer things in education - the observation of nature and the miracles of life. Moncho makes friends with Roque (Tamar Novas) and together the lads discover some of the realities of life: they observe a bizarre sexual encounter which later will reveal much about Moncho's family, and they begin to learn about the political adversity that colors the lives of the conservative Catholic little community. Andrés falls in love with a Chinese girl and therein lies another complex lesson in life. Eventually the political life comes to a head and the entry of Franco's regime divides the people between republicanism and communism, and Moncho must face the cruelties that befall his mentor as he must side with his family. And the effect of the loving, meaningful relationship between teacher and pupil is left for the viewer to decide.

As directed by José Luis Cuerda and written by Cuerda and Rafael Azcona based on stories by Galician writer and journalist Manuel Rivas, the film, while always a work of great beauty and tenderness, feels a bit fragmented at times, probably due to the fact that separate stories were combined in one film, leaving portions of some sidebars with an incomplete resolution. But the wonder of the film lies in the acting by both Fernando Fernán Gómez and Manuel Lozano who together create a memorable bond that already has become a cinematic gold standard. The cinematography by Javier G. Salmones and the simple but note perfect musical score by Alejandro Amenábar set standards for Spanish filmmaking.

This is a story to inform and to remind us how we as human beings are prone to follow external influences more than obeying our hearts and caring for our souls. BUTTERFLY paints a vivid portrait of Spain on the knife of revolution and the effects such changes can make in the eyes of a child. It is a brilliant little movie. In Spanish and Latin with English subtitles. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, January 07

7 of 7 found the following review helpful:

BeautifulJan 07, 2005
By Margaret Dybala "too many books, too little time"
This film is about a shy, intelligent little boy who is nurtured by a wonderful, aging teacher. To see the old man imparting knowledge to these children is very touching.

It is also about the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, and how war can twist people, causing them to behave in dispicable ways. I don't want to say too much, lest I give away the marvelous end.

But I recommend this movie 100%. It is wonderful for its moral, but also for the lovely performances.

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:

A Film That Is Both Heartwarming and TroublingJan 20, 2006
By Timothy Kearney
I thought this film was another title. I wanted a French film called LE PAPILLON, about an older gentleman who becomes a grandfather-like figure to a young girl, but I wasn't too careful and selected BUTTERFLY figuring it was an English translation of the title. When I viewed it and saw a little boy instead of a little girl, discovered that the older man was a teacher and not a grandfather, and the dialogue was in Spanish, not French, that I realized I had the wrong title. I decided to keep the title and watch it, and discovered a beautiful and moving film.

The story begins in an idyllic time and setting: Spain in the days prior to the Fascist revolution. It appears to be a simpler time and the colorful village life is not unlike the two French films MY MOTHER'S CASTLE and its companion MY FATHER'S GLORY. The story revolves around a young boy named Moncho and his first year in school. He is taught by the gentle Don Gregorio, a wise man who also knows the importance of training young minds. We also see a loving older/younger brother relationship develop between Moncho and Andrea, a budding musician who believes he is one saxophone lesson away from becoming a musical Dom Juan. He also has a close friend Rocque. Whatever the teacher cannot teach him, Moncho believes Rocque and Andrea will. We see Moncho grow under his teacher's guidance, yet as the film progresses, we know something terrible is about to happen which occurs when the tremors of the fascist revolt touch their town and the townspeople become divided based more on fear than conviction. The film is poignant largely because of the way its innocent beginning changes and has a tragic end, reminding us how strong self preservation can be, and how easily young minds can learn hate.

I've ordered LE PAPILLON and know that I'll finally see the film I wanted to see in the first place, but I'm glad I also have BUTTERFLY in my collection.

Enjoy!!!

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