Butterfly Wings

Alas de Mariposa is about a 6-year-old girl, Ami that lives in a home full of nightmares. Her mother, Carmen, has an obsession to give birth to a male. She wants to carry on the patriarchal name of her husband, Gabriel. For that reason, Carmen does not treat Ami with the love and respect that she needs and deserves. She often ignores Ami and tells her to leave her alone. Ami's father, Gabriel, is a hardworking garbage man that tries to keep the family together. He often tries to comfort Ami, since her mother will not. Ami's butterfly drawings as a child, turn into dark, skeletal remains of a butterfly as she grows older. Gabriel finally get fed up with all of the arguing and tension in the home and asks Ami to leave the house. This movie is full of terror for Ami--involving murder,hatred,and rape. You will notice the rejection of a female in this film and how Ami is victimized by the society's ideologies. Juanma uses several strategies to create this "dark and tragic" environment.