La Lengua de las Mariposas from uhu.es

This was quite a long article and all in Spanish :( It talks mainly about education under the Second Republic, which it the background of La Lengua de las Mariposas. I thought this would prove useful as Don Gregorio, the central character's teacher, is an enthusiastic Republican.

• The Church traditionally had the strongest presence in education. The Second Republic (1931-9ish) aimed to reform education, instead encouraging a questioning attitude and the separation of school and Catholicism, especially using nature.
• The film has an air of nostalgia for liberty and the promises of the Republic.
• There are direct mentions to the Civil War, although it does not appear violently until the final scene.
• In one scene the Machado poem 'Recuerdo Infantil' (Childhood Memory) is recited, which describes the boredom of a traditional classroom - 'shriveled and tired'.