Many people have called "La lengua de las mariposas" an anti-war movie and in a way that is true. But in my opinion calling this film only an anti-war movie is not exactly right, because it is more than that. It's also a movie about a young, shy, asthmatic boy who, after being a bit over-protected by his parents, now goes for the first time to school. At first he is scared, because he is convinced that the teacher will hit him, but as time goes by, he becomes very enthusiastic and interested in everything the teacher tells him. He learns a lot of new things about nature, poetry, friendship,...
It's true that all this happens with the Spanish civil war on the background. Eventually Moncho has to choose between his love for the teacher and the pressure of his family and neighbors to take sides in this political conflict. But it's only at the end of the movie, when the civil war has already a much more imminent role in the movie, that he will have to make his choice, forcing him to grow apart from someone that he really loves, no matter which side he chooses. Only then it really shows how people were forced to choose a side and what happened if they had made the "wrong" choice.
However, the biggest part of the movie hasn't much to do with war or anti-war feelings. The biggest part of the movie is dedicated to the life and adventures of the young boy Moncho. I'm sure that many people will feel involved with him, because Manuel Lozano played this role so naturally that you'll soon forget that this is actually an actor. The same for Fernando Fernán Gómez. He is really very convincing as the father-like teacher who has learned to love life and nature in every detail and who is eager to open 'his' children's eyes to the beauty and wonder of it.
I'm sure that not only adults could enjoy this movie. I guess even younger viewers, even though they might not yet completely understand the underlying message, might appreciate it. For them, this might also be a way to take interest in nature, in history,... Personally I also like the fact that, even though this is a rather sentimental movie, it never has that sugar sweet feeling that you might expect from many other movies. It's all very sober and very interesting to see. I give this movie a 7.5/10.
It's true that all this happens with the Spanish civil war on the background. Eventually Moncho has to choose between his love for the teacher and the pressure of his family and neighbors to take sides in this political conflict. But it's only at the end of the movie, when the civil war has already a much more imminent role in the movie, that he will have to make his choice, forcing him to grow apart from someone that he really loves, no matter which side he chooses. Only then it really shows how people were forced to choose a side and what happened if they had made the "wrong" choice.
However, the biggest part of the movie hasn't much to do with war or anti-war feelings. The biggest part of the movie is dedicated to the life and adventures of the young boy Moncho. I'm sure that many people will feel involved with him, because Manuel Lozano played this role so naturally that you'll soon forget that this is actually an actor. The same for Fernando Fernán Gómez. He is really very convincing as the father-like teacher who has learned to love life and nature in every detail and who is eager to open 'his' children's eyes to the beauty and wonder of it.
I'm sure that not only adults could enjoy this movie. I guess even younger viewers, even though they might not yet completely understand the underlying message, might appreciate it. For them, this might also be a way to take interest in nature, in history,... Personally I also like the fact that, even though this is a rather sentimental movie, it never has that sugar sweet feeling that you might expect from many other movies. It's all very sober and very interesting to see. I give this movie a 7.5/10.