Moncho (Manuel Lozano) is a curious little boy who lives with his loving family in rural 1930s Spain. Sitting in his bed reading at night while his older brother practices his saxophone, Moncho is afraid of starting school and afraid especially that the teacher will beat him. To the contrary, teacher Don Gregorio (Fernando Fernan Gomez) fascinates Moncho with lessons about nature and freedom. Taking long walks by the stream in the beautiful countryside--catching butterflies, listening for the sounds of crickets, peeking at the local girls swimming nearby--Moncho and his brother learn to appreciate the beauty of nature, and through it achieve a better understanding of their own coming of age.

Underlying this gentle plot is an aggravated political situation, suggested in debates between Moncho's parents or in suspicious activity among the parents of Moncho's classmates. When the Spanish Civil War commences in 1936, this peaceful period of discovery comes to an abrupt end as Moncho is faced with real life lessons about political persecution, discrimination, religious hysteria, and the terror of war. Capturing the color and mystery of the world as seen through a child's eyes, Jose Luis Cuerda's BUTTERFLY is a sweet, moving film.