The cinematic adaptation of Spanish literary works
A dialogue between artistic languages in La lengua de las mariposas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22475/rebeca.v15n1.1295Keywords:
Adaptation, Transcreation, Cinema, CondensationAbstract
The cinematic adaptation of La lengua de las mariposas unifies three short stories by Manuel Rivas. The film utilizes diegetic temporal condensation and Moncho's fixed point of view to transpose literary subjectivity. This internal ocularization connects narratives and transforms autodiegetic narrators, employing the camera as a guiding thread. The synopsis details the stories Carmiña, Un saxo en la niebla, and La lengua de las mariposas, and their intertwining in the film, culminating in the depiction of the Francoist coup. The analysis explores how the choice of a “central thread”, the suppression of the autodiegetic narrator in favor of Moncho's “mirada”, the insertion of characters (like Roque and Andrés), and skillful “temporal condensation” materialize the plot. The strategic use of the soundtrack amplifies dramatic expressiveness. It is concluded that the adaptation is a successful “transcreation”, which “stitches” distinct stories together, respecting the autonomy of cinematic language to “materialize time” and emotion, resulting in cohesive and impactful work.
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