In The Time of the Butterflies 2001

     This film is based on the best-selling 1994 novel by Latina writer Julia Alvarez.  From 1930 until 1961, General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo held absolute control of the Dominican Republic.  He had secret alliances with the church, aristocrats, intellectuals and the press.  This was the foundation of his dictatorship and in order to remain in power, he murdered anyone who opposed him!!  More than 30,000 people were executed during his reign of terror.  Minerva Mirabal and her three sisters, Patria, Dede and Maria Teresa live on a farm in rural Ojo De Agua.  Minerva convinces her father to send her and her sisters Patria and Mate to boarding school.  They spend five years away at school and Trujillo notices Minerva while viewing a school play.  When she returns to the farm, Minerva meets Virgilio and he gives her the nickname Butterfly.  Virgilio leaves the country and the family is invited to a formal ball at Trujillo’s palace.  Minerva is asked to dance with Trujillo but this doesn’t go well.  Later, Minerva, Patria and Mate become members of the resistance fighting against Trujillo.   

    This film follows the plot and the major details of the novel very well.  There are some edge of your seat moments and you don't know what is going to happen.  Anyone who opposes Trujillo in any way is risking their life and possibly a family member's life!!  Minerva wants to study to be a lawyer but she would need special permission from Trujillo because women are not allowed to be lawyers.  Later, several of the children of the Mirabal sisters served in important positions in the government.  4* (I really liked this movie)   

 

95 min, Crime directed by Mariano Barroso with Salma Hayek, Lumi Cavazos, Edward James Olmos, Mia Maestro, Demian Bichir, Pilar Padilla, Marc Anthony, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Ana Maartin, Fernadno Becerril, Anthonay Alvarez, Ermahn Ospina, Raul Mendez.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 77% audience, Letterboxd 2* out of 5* Robert Cettl, MovieMoveMe.com 5* with two votes, TVGuide.com 2* out of 5* Elizabeth Wolgemuth, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 94 reviews.  Goodreads gives the book 4.1* out of 5* with 49,672 votes.

Special Note:  Filmed in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Morelos, Veracruz, Mexico.  The novel is used in high school classes to teach the history of the Dominican Republic and highlight the religious fervor, patriotism, struggles and family values of the resistance.      

Mirabal Family:  The members of the family are Mama, Papa Enrique, Minerva (3/12/1926), Dede 3/1/1925, Patria 2/27/1924), Maria Teresa (Mate) (11/15/1935).