I’ve always had a soft spot for coming-of-age stories, so when friends kept raving about this Spanish gem, Butterfly’s Tongue ( with its original title La Lengua de las Mariposas ), I knew it would be right up my alley. There’s something timeless about movies belonging to the genre — that mixture of innocence, curiosity, and the slow realization that the world is bigger, messier, and sometimes more painful than we imagined. This film captures all of that — not just in a memorable way, but like a scent from childhood, it lingers long after the final frame.
Butterfly’s Tongue instantly brought to mind several beloved coming-of-age classics. Its central bond between a curious child and a wise, gentle mentor echoes the emotional depth of Cinema Paradiso, with that same undercurrent of bittersweet nostalgia. The film’s child’s-eye view of a quietly shifting world reminded me of Kolya and My Life As a Dog. It also calls to mind Secrets of the Heart, not only in its tone and perspective but in the presence of a young, beautiful protagonist whose expressive eyes and quiet sensitivity draw the viewer in and hold the story’s emotional center.
Michael Thomson summed it perfectly in his BBC review from 26 July 2000: “Manuel Lozano, as the seven-year-old Moncho, is particularly powerful when he has to do more than just look anxious and cute (his cuteness loads the dice too much).
Set in a quiet Galician village in the 1930s, the film follows a gentle little boy named Moncho — played by the incredible Manuel Lozano. Moncho is shy, sweet, and delicate; his mother lovingly calls him “sparrow.” Just that nickname alone reveals the film’s emotional tone: tender, intimate, and full of heart.
Moncho, who suffers from asthma, is filled with dread the night before his first day of school — terrified by rumors that his new teacher might beat him. But everything changes once he meets Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernán Gómez), the teacher assigned to his class. Don Gregorio is kind and respectful, earning his students’ attention without raising his voice or hand. As Moncho begins to feel safe, his world starts to open up. A deep bond forms between the boy and his teacher, and from that point on, the film gently follows their relationship and Moncho’s early steps into the complexities of growing up.
The bond between Moncho and Don Gregorio stayed with me. Their scenes felt so genuine that, at times, I felt like I was the one sitting in that classroom — quietly absorbing lessons about life, books, and values. That’s something I love about well-executed coming-of-age films: they don’t just show someone growing up; they let you grow alongside them.
Soon after his first days at school, Moncho has an experience that marks a step toward growing up—he and an older schoolmate secretly watch a couple making love. Until this moment, the film comes across as a gentle, almost nostalgic look at childhood, leading the viewer to expect a simple, idealized coming-of-age story. But the Spanish director quietly shifts this expectation, showing that childhood is not always the sweet, perfect time often portrayed in some American films. From there, the film gradually builds emotional tension, layer by layer, leading to a powerful and heart-wrenching finale.
The set and costume design of Butterfly’s Tongue are beautifully detailed, anchoring us in 1930s Galicia. The simple schoolroom, with its worn desks and modest furnishings, feels true to the era. Meanwhile, the lush forest where Don Gregorio teaches Moncho about butterflies bursts with tall trees and soft sunlight, creating a vivid sense of wonder. These elements bring the story to life, making the time and place feel real, not just a faded memory.
The director cast Lozano from among 1,500 auditioning children, calling him “a genius of interpretation.” Watching the film, I agree. So much of Moncho’s coming-of-age journey is told through his eyes — eyes that reflect fear, wonder, defiance, and ultimately, betrayal. In fact, in many of the Spanish films I’ve seen, it’s the eyes of the protagonists — not the plot — that tell the true story.
When I first saw the film back in the early 2000s, I was moved by its tenderness, its understated wisdom, and the tragic sweep of history that slowly but inevitably intrudes upon a boy’s world. Watching it again now, nearly two decades later, I’m struck by how much more it gives — and how deeply it still affects me. It’s a unique coming-of-age story that unfolds with quiet warmth, only to deliver a sudden, profound heartbreak that mirrors life itself. If you appreciate cinema that explores the delicate balance of innocence and disillusionment with emotional depth, I highly recommend it.
Title: La Lengua de las Mariposas
Director: José Luis Cuerda
Release year: 1999, Canal+ España
Cast : Fernando Fernan Gomez, Manuel Lozano, Uxia Blanco, Gonzalo Uriarte, Alexis de los Santos, Jesus Castejon, Guillermo Toledo, Elena Fernandez, Tamar Novas, Tatan and others
This review is included in the book Coming Of Age Movies: Growing Up On Screen
Since he won the MGP 2005 for Denmark, 18 year old Nicolai Kielstrup’s success has grown enormously. He really is an extremely talented singer/dancer and has already released three albums, one single and performed lots of concerts.
“I am probably the person who has the greatest expectations for myself. I am very much a perfectionist about my music and my performances and I am always working to make them as good as possible. If I am not completely satisfied, then I will discard everything and start all over until I am completely satisfied”, says the purposeful singing and dancing talent.
Ti kniver i hjertet ( Cross My Heart and Hope to Die) is one of the coming of age films I have always wanted to see. For no particular reason – other than its title, which grabbed my attention. After I have seen it, I am quite confused by it , which does not come as a surprise keeping in mind that Ti kniver i hjertet is a Norwegian movie and these sometimes tend to be abstract or hard to interpret. As seen on the cover, the movie is being marketed as being filmed “in the tradition of My Life As A Dog”. As I have seen that one too – I could only agree with that, especially when it comes to the director’s choice of letting the viewer wonder what was the main idea he intended to project in his work.
This past September we spent some time in Australia followed up with just a short flight across the ocean to New Zealand. This month we travel to Dortmund Germany where we find one of the best young voices that Dortmund has ever birthed.
Thomas has performed in many singing contests. In September of 2008 he performed in the semi finals at the Kiddy Contest in Vienna. This past February he was invited to perform as the only boy from Duetschprachigen Europe with 5 girls in a Disney Channel Competition for the title song of Hannah Montana’s Best of Both Worlds. In April he competed in “Germany’s Next Show Stars” followed up by his June appearance in Germany’s DAS SUPER TALENT where he made it to the 3rd round finals. This past summer he performed at the Talent Show in Oberhausen and in Düsseldorf.
Thomas feels most comfortable in his leather jacket and jeans but will dress in a suite if the occasion calls for it. School subjects he most likes are English, Music & Sports. Thomas can speak Russian, French, Spanish, Latin and English as well as his native German tongue.
The forum of this blog was never too active, yet it was the birth place of many good articles thanks to its members. Now strychnine turned my attention towards an upcoming coming of age flick called “Bones”. Zakk Wylde and Jimmy Bennett star in the film – and that is guaranteed to attract some attention to it.
Among the wonderful sounds of life in Perthshire, Scotland you may not expect to hear the sounds of the Grand Ole Opry. But it appears that God and nature has blessed them with just that.
Most people would know Liam James from the short flashbacks at the beginning of every Psych episode, where he plays the young Shawn. His acting career however, contains many more titles. He was first seen in Good Luck Chuck, followed by Things We Lost in the Fire — where he appeared as an extra only for few seconds.
Undoubtedly, it can be said that his actual breakthrough came this year with the release of Roland Emerich’s blockbuster 2012, the film about a global cataclysm which strikes the world on the winter solstice of 2012, according to the Mayan calendar. In this catastrophic flick, Liam James is featured, along with John Cusack. Portraying Cusack’s son, Liam delivers a brilliant performance people will definitely remember. While filming 2012, he also did some of his own stunts while submerged.
No matter if you are into pop music or not -chances are you have heard of Justin Bieber. His name seems to be popping up everywhere these days – My Space, Twitter, Facebook, radios, TV shows – this Canadian singer, his fans, and management have created a huge hype around his name and music.
theskykid.com 
I don’t usually write negative reviews, as most of the time I am well prepared for what I am about to see when I pick a new film. ¨The White Ribbon¨ surprised me as it turned out quite different than what I imagined it would be.
To start with, I was mislead by the description of the film at Wikipedia. According to it: