Customer Reviews
A taste of the origins of the Spanish Civil War. - By: Davidicus, 21 Apr 2009 
A most memorable & moving story of the developing relationship between a young boy & his aging schoolmaster, against a background of the stirrings of civil unrestin a Spanish village. The acting, particularly by the young boy, is outstanding; the photography vivid & the filming, after a slow start, picks up a rapid pace. Much seems to be metaphorical, & there is a theme of various voices being "silenced". Nevertheless, at the end we are left wondering why the title: "The Butterfly's Tongue"?
review of Butterly tongues - By: S. L. Wilkinson, 08 Oct 2008 A beautiful, touching, moving documentation of a young boy's growing relationship both with his teacher & the world around him that knocks the wind out of your sails & leaves you wounded. I'll take the last look on his teacher's face with me to the grave. "Sshh.. it's a story about love & freedom," says the man on the bicycle, according to screen writer, Rafael Azcona. This is a beautiful, hurtful film that I just can't get out of my head.
Three elegant though provoking stories, but lacking synchronicity. - By: James Smith, 28 May 2007 
This movie is based on three short stories from the same book, which are all experienced from the view point of an 8 year old boy, Moncho, but which are otherwise scarcely related. The story of the school teacher is touchingly portrayed, & Moncho is central to this story, but the story of the dog & the story of the wolf woman contain events which Moncho watches rather than participates in, & could perhaps have been better told from a closer viewpoint.
The three stories themselves are simple but twisted, like the best of Don Camillo. The film seems understated, at least when observed through the English subtitles, & the adult characters seem deliberately underdeveloped.
The English subtitles are poor, at times dialog is missing, & at times the translation was literally correct but could have better reflected the empathy of the character.
Overall this is a rewarding & thought provoking movie. Although this lacks the beautiful score of Malena, Butterfly's Tongue should appeal to the same audience.
Masterpiece - By: Mr. David C. Hughes, 25 Mar 2007 Being the archetypal English monoglot (OK I know a few words of other languages but I'm not too hot) I almost dropped this from my rental list when I read the review that it had no subtitles (I can only assume that reviewer couldn't find them).
How wrong that would have been as this was a mesmerising film. The characters were played by an exceptional cast who brought together every nuance of that timein rural Spain. The relationships between the characters - especially that of Monch & his teacher Don Gregorio - felt as real as if one was watching real life instead of a movie. Dialogue was excellent & I wish I could understand Spanish & read the original stories that the movie is based on.
Allin all a first rate film that one would hate to have missed.
No subtitles - beware - By: L. Wilson, 01 Dec 2006 
I rented this DVD after reading the wonderful reviews & if you understand Spanish they were probably 100%. The film was to be beautifully filmed, the period style & location were relevant & the acting (particularly the children)seemed to be excellent & the film score delightful (5 star) there was no option for subtitles at allin the menu. I fast-forwarded & jumped the entire movie to get the gist. Very disappointing.
