Butterfly

Butterfly

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DVD Reviews of Butterfly

DVD Review: The tongue of butterflies is called Proboscis
Summary: 3 Stars

This movie tells the story of a young boy, Moncho, going to school in a small town in northwestern Spain soon before the start of the Civil War (1936). Moncho is a very sensitive kid, and the teacher, Don Gregorio, takes him under his wing immediately. Don Gregorio's role is played by famous actor Fernando Fernán-Gómez, who by the way is also a very talented writer. Both he and Moncho do a superb acting job. The story is sweet and the characters well portrayed, but the movie has some very flawed spots. There are some gratuitous scenes that don't go anywhere. For example, Don Gregorio throwing up outside the bar. I immediately imagined that he was probably very sick, and maybe would die soon. None of that happened. I had to wonder what was then the point of showing him indisposed. Would it be that Moncho, upon seeing his teacher like that, think that he was a drunk and lose respect? There was no resolution, and the incident became inconsequential and stayed there.

Carmiña's bizarre love triangle was rather gratuitous as well, and did not provide any insights into the main story at all, other than to show how brutal some people can be, or the dangers of alcohol.

Another very annoying scene is when Moncho and Andrés leave the village where they performed a gig and the wife of the major runs to see their cart go by. Andrés had obviously developed a crush on her, and he played (amazingly well, after being such a sucky sax player) a solo during the concert and gave her some languid looks. But there was never evidence that she reciprocated those feelings. Why then does she run through the mountains to catch a last glimpse at their cart? This scene seems to come out of nowhere.

The final scene, when the mob gathers to see who has been arrested because of their political sympathies, is great. However, it is poorly explored. Moncho's dad, who supported the Republic, cries when he starts to insult those that he himself used to call `friends'. It is easy to see what hypocrisy has done to him. But what about the boys? Andrés is in shock when he sees one of his band mates in handcuffs. Moncho is surprised to see his best friend's dad arrested. The whole family gasps when they see Don Gregorio. Yet without exception they will insult those people that were so close to them before. What next? It would have been excellent to explore the repercussions of those actions. How would Moncho and Andrés feel after this episode? That was a missed opportunity.

Description of Butterfly