Mariposas Verdes

There needs to be some academic research done on the desire of filmmakers to make depressing movies about gay kids. Make no mistake - the two characters who are at the center of the story have almost no problem with their sexuality and love for each other. It's the society that stands in their way, with predictable consequences. As a viewer, aren't I familiar with these consequences already? Must we be constantly be reminded how bad things are out there, how slowly things change? Another item to make clear - there are happy gays in this world. Everyone, everywhere would benefit from seeing those stories, not in an attempt to whitewash the difficulties, but as an act of restorative justice. These beautiful guys deserve better in this film than to be squashed under the boot of an uncaring world. As an aside, it could have been a good television series as well.

This film deals with a pair of gay students in Columbia who are attending a private school with an autocratic administration. The main characters students also have absentee or largely unsupportive parents. Given the level of repression, the unchecked bullying and the raging hormones, this is a recipe for disaster and the film has a higher body count than movies of this type.

When I was first coming out and coming to terms with my sexual identify, I found a lot of good in Spanish films. El Diputado, Colegas, El Sacerdote, Law of Desire to name but a few. In later years we've seen Strawberry & Chocolate , Burnt Money, Y tu mamá también, and The Way He Looks,

In many ways they are ALL more advanced than this film. Yes, the setting is Colombia in South America and it seems WAY more repressed than most Hispanic countries.

The boys are cute enough and the story doesn't dwell in the dismal aspects of this culture but it's certainly NOT the hopeful optimistic brand of gay film that I've come to expect these days.

According to the after credits the Colombian government ordered a change to school rules nationwide that recognized differences in sexual orientation So I'm a bit unclear what a film like this released in 2017 was trying to accomplish except perhaps the exorcising of some old demons.

If you have a special interest in Colombia and want to see an autocratic school system with very few real civil liberties, then this may well, be your film. If you're up for something lighter and want something in Spanish may I suggest the latest season of Elite?

Made in 2017, the closing explains that "In 2015, the Colombian government ordered a revision of school charter rules to include respect for sexual orientation and gender identity". The film's action predates 2015 and explains why this humane ruling was needed. "Mariposas Verdes" is important and unflinching in demonstrating what always happens when homophobic bullies and cruel, bigoted, corrupt authorities and authority figures are allowed to victimize the innocent, especially young people who happen to be different and women, both within institutions and families. In addition to horrendous acts of domestic spousal and child abuse, we see high school kids forced to endure brutal discrimination, rape, and ultimately, suicides--one at both ends of the film! A very moving, well-made, but relentlessly disturbing film, and one that should be seen, especially in the US, where bully-rule has become the norm since the 2016 election, now with a Supreme Court backing the bullies against human rights and personal freedoms. That Colombia should now be ahead of the US in this regard is disgraceful.

This movie tells the story of a teenager who struggles to find his own identity in this world, but must confront a society incapable of understanding differences, gender variations or our own choices, whatever they are. Well crafted, this movie tells the story of bullying from the perspective of a teenager, but also proves that the position of parents and teachers are crucial if we desire to prevent this type of behavior. Mariposas Verdes is meant to be a movie that causes controversy and stays in the mind of the viewer, just as much as the book Mariposas Verdes.

This film uses a subtle poetic visual narrative flow to address a series of human issues that touch a wider range of age groups. This film starts with a stark tragic resultant reality, then steps back addressing a series adolescent issues that have permanent impact on all . I'm glad the writer's and actors didn't hold back on the bullying and bigotry, as it is a harsh reality of us who make up society. The ending is horrific, maybe this is the symbolic smack in the face that we needed. It's with great love and support,that I send out to the victims of emotional, verbal or physical violence. Xx.