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La Lengua de las Mariposas (Butterfly) (Butterfly Tongues) (1999)

tomatometer

100

Average Rating: 7.6/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

audience

89

liked it
Average Rating: 4.1/5
User Ratings: 4,843

My Rating

Movie Info

Veteran director Jose Luis Cuerda delivered this sensitive portrait of a child coming of age during a tense political situation just before the Spanish Civil War. On his first day of school, frail eight-year-old Moncho (Manuel Lozano) is so terrified by the imposing figure of his teacher Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernan Gomez) that he flees into the nearby woods. In spite of his authoritarian appearance, the schoolmaster proves to be a kind, free-thinking Republican who teaches Moncho the virtues

Mar 28, 2006

All Critics (51) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (1) | DVD (7)

Because the film marches so inexorably toward its conclusion, it would be unfair to hint at what happens, except to say that it provides a heartbreaking insight into the way that fear creates cowards.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Elegant and astonishing in its powerful simplicity.

January 7, 2010 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | Comment
TheMovieReport.com

The real tragedy is the death of a liberal education.

January 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Film Journal International | Comment
Film Journal International

A bitterswet coming-of-age drama about the ways in which paranoia can stifle our courage, sanity, and love.

March 13, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment (1)
Spirituality and Practice

powerful, poignant, and thought provoking

August 21, 2001 Full Review Source: Old School Reviews | Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for La Lengua de las Mariposas (Butterfly) (Butterfly Tongues)

A wonderful (but tragic) story about a very bright but fragile little boy from a conservative family and the strength and courage that he gets from his very kind and exceptionally wise teacher, who is more liberal minded.

March 19, 2008
RCCLBC
Robert C

Super Reviewer

A heartbreaking microcosmos of spain's socio political situation in the eve of their civil war. told with serenity and wisdom.

August 21, 2007
pier007

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • La lengua de las mariposas (DE)
  • Butterfly's Tongue (UK)
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