Genres

Visitors Review

2013-05-20 12:28:54

BEST EVER

This movie is the best movie with Selma Hayek! It has the best suspense intro, and above all story struture. I suggest any watch this movie if they want to really know how life was for a family and a women in the time of the regime of Trujillo (spanish-boggey man lol)

2013-05-19 19:36:48

in the time of the butterflies

This review is from: In the Time of the Butterflies (DVD) It was were a woman was put into a married, that she didn't want to be in. sooner she would fall in love with her husband, and have a child with him. Then he dies at the end.

Julie 2013-05-18 02:45:14

Awesome!

This was a great movie. It is very inspiring especially for us women. There should be more movies about women who had an impact in life one way or another.

ABRAXAX 2013-05-17 14:52:19

Minerva Mirabal

Patria Mercedes Mirabal (February 27, 1924 – November 25, 1960), MariaArgentina Minerva Mirabal (March 12, 1926 – November 25, 1960) andAntonia María Teresa Mirabal (October 15, 1935 – November 25, 1960) —were natives of the Dominican Republic who fervently opposed thedictatorship of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. The second eldest, BélgicaAdela "Dedé" Mirabal-Reyes , was not assassinated the day her sisterswere. As of 2007, she currently lives in Hermanas Mirabal (formerlySalcedo), Dominican Republic. She precedes in the sisters' natal houseand works to preserve her sisters' memory through the "Museo HermanasMirabal" which is also located in Salcedo and was home to the girls forthe final ten months of their lives).The Mirabal women grew up in an upper class, well-cultured environment.All became married family women. The father of the Mirabal sisters wasa successful businessman. When Trujillo came to power, their familylost almost all of their fortune. They believed that Trujillo wouldsend their country into economic chaos. Minerva became particularlypassionate about ending the dictatorship of Trujillo after talkingextensively with an uncle of hers. Influenced by her uncle, Minervabecame more involved in the anti-Trujillo movement. Minerva studied lawand became a lawyer, but because she did not permit Trujillo romanticadvancements, he ordered that she was not to receive her degree. Hersisters followed suit, and they eventually formed a group of opponentsto the Trujillo regime, known as the Movement of the Fourteenth ofJune. Inside that group, they were known as "The Butterflies" (LasMariposas in Spanish). They are known as Las Mariposas because that wasthe underground name that Minerva was recognized as in politicaldealings. Two of the sisters were incarcerated and tortured on severaloccasions. Three of the sisters' husbands were incarcerated at LaVictoria Penitentiary in Santo Domingo.Despite these setbacks, they persisted in fighting to try to endTrujillo's dictatorship. After the sisters' numerous imprisonments,Trujillo decided to get rid of the sisters. On November 25, 1960, hesent men to intercept the three women after the women had visited theirhusbands in prison. The unarmed sisters were led into a sugarcanefield, then beaten and strangled to death. Their car was later thrownoff of a mountain known as La Cumbre, between the cities of Santiagoand Puerto Plata.Trujillo believed at the time that he had removed a significantproblem. Having the three sisters killed backfired, however: the deathsof the Mirabal sisters caused a general public outrage throughout theirnative country. The resultant publicity of the deaths caused theDominican Republic to become more interested in the Mirabal sisters andtheir cause. This public support and awareness contributed toTrujillo's assassination six months later in 1961.The Mirabal sisters were buried in Ojo of Agua, an area outside thecity of Salcedo in Salcedo Province, on the property of their secondhome where they lived the last ten months of their lives. This home hasalso been turned into a museum in their honor and is open to thepublic. There is also a library, bookstore, and souvenir shop locatedon the property. The three sisters are buried together, and Manolo,Minerva's husband, is also buried with them.The surviving sister, Dedé, lives near the museum. One of her sons,Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, served as the vice-president duringLeonel Fernández's first term as president of the republic between theyears of 1996 and 2000. Minou Tavarez Mirabal, the eldest daughter ofMinerva Mirabal has served as a Congresswoman since 1998 until 2006,and has recently been reelected for four additional years (until 2010

LeeLee 2013-05-16 09:27:42

Why I Like The Movie

The reason why I give this movie an A because I like movies that happened in real life. My classmates and I just saw the movie in class and our teacher gave us a quiz to see how many of us were paying attention to the movie.

kia-d-king001 2013-05-15 21:40:10

In the Time of Butterflies

This was a real good movie. Later in time in the Dominican Republicanthey had a government named Trujillo. What ever Trujillo said went. Ifsomeone in the household did something bad, the man of the house wouldbe the one to be sent to prison, killed , or tortured. At a party oneof the Mirabal sisters got into it with Trujillo after he touched herbutt and she slapped him. She was the outgoing one out of the sisters.She felt as though he deserved it because he disrespected her by doingthat. There father was soon captured and sent to prison and tortured.Years later the Mirabal sisters and their husband were arrested forspreading the word about Trujillo. The Mirabal sisters were let outfirst but they kept their husbands imprisoned. One day they were comingback from the prison to try and get their husbands out and on the wayback they were stopped on the road because Trujillo felt that they haddone wrong. They were dragged into a collard patch and beaten to deathand killed. This movie was really really good you should watch it too.

2013-05-12 22:17:24

excellent movie

This review is from: In the Time of the Butterflies (DVD) Usually the movie destroys the story the book had but not so with this version of In the Time of Butterflies. Selma Hyak portrays one of the Mirabel sisters in their struggle to overcome the dictatorship of Truijllo(played by James Olmos) who rules the Dominican Republic with an iron hand. While the ending is slightly different than the book; it adequately represented the essence of what really happened to the Butterfly Sisters.I had read and enjoyed this book many years ago. The movie acted a as a refresher for me in order that I can discuss the book at my book club with out having to reread the book. While this was my goal; I was very happily surprised that it gave me the opportunity to watch and enjoy a great movie.

rps-2 2013-05-12 10:55:33

Powerful

With so much horror loose in this century, we forget some of the recenthorrors of the last. Few people who vacation in the Dominican Republic todayare aware of the brutal regime which flourished there --- like a poisonoustropical flower --- until recent times.This is a splendid depiction of it and of the struggle to overthrow it.Surprisingly there is no reference to the United States' shameful support ofTrujillo or to the Castro revolution in nearby Cuba. I also wonder why itwas filmed in Mexico rather than the Dominican Republic itself. But nomatter. It is a gripping and thoughtful piece of cinema.

2013-05-11 04:34:09

In the Time of the Butterflies

This review is from: In the Time of the Butterflies (DVD) Absolutely brilliant movie. Salma Hayek's portrayal of Minerva Mirabel is one of her best. Knowing this is a true story, is the only sad part.

Quentara Johnson 2013-05-10 16:01:27

The movie was had a very excellent scene play.

The movie In The Time Of The Butterfly was an excellent movie, I reallyenjoyed the fact that three women, sisters at that were able to standout and speak up about how their dictator Rafel Trujillo was treatingwomen in the Dominican Republic. Rafel Trujillo was a strict dictatorwho was cruel to his citizens.At the end the three sisters were killed because Rafel Trujillo but ahit out on them. I wanted yto cry because women had no respect afterwhat they had done. Then Rafel Trujillo was killed afterwards by somemen on a empty road. You should try to take the time out and enjoy themovie.

2013-05-08 18:42:09

Time for the Dictators

A fine, "minor" movie, with major themes. It is about resistance to a dictator, a woman's (and women's) liberation, and about the real meaning of what loss of freedom in a society means. Directed by Mariano Barrroso, the movie, spanning almost three decades, chronicles the life of a resistance movement leader, Minerva Mirabal (Salma Hayek), in the Dominican Republic, and her various confrontations with dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo (Edward James Olmos), who ruled that island nation with an iron hand from 1930 till his assassination in 1961. The movie focuses on his obsession with her and his attempts over many years to make her his mistress, bent on revenge when all his attempts prove futile. The movie implies that it was his frequent practice to visit the country, pick a young woman that filled his "eye," and then entice her to his palace for a dance. Many young women were thus impregnated and packed to Miami or other resting place afterwards. Minerva has the courage to resist, thus paying the price--her father's murder, and the imprisonment of her and her sisters. Miranda becomes the leader of an underground freedom movement under the code-name "the butterfly." Eventually, she is assassinated by his thugs, her sister and herself beaten to death with clubs. Her death is annually celebrated in Latin America, as a "violence against women" theme. Tense, well-acted, enjoyable and horrifying, "The Times of the Butterflies" is a minor masterpiece, and an inspirational story, very much worth watching, despite the pan-and-scan format of this DVD.

2013-05-08 02:54:01

A very great and entertaining movie

This move is so realistic, when watching this it seem s that you can feel the pain the actors are feeling. I t's they type of movie that all history teachers should show to their studends, if studying this era. I really really loved it I can watch it over and over again.

Lee Eisenberg 2013-05-06 03:22:10

There was more that they could have discussed.

In case you've never heard of Rafael Trujillo, he seized power in theDominican Republic in a 1930 coup, and ruled the country throughterror, torture, and assassination over the next thirty years. "In theTime of the Butterflies" portrays the Mirabal sisters, who sought tooverthrow him. The movie did a worthy job looking at their lives,although it could have gone into life under Trujillo's regime a littlemore. Salma Hayek plays Minerva Mirabal and Edward James Olmos playsTrujillo.Another interesting thing about Trujillo was that, although the USgladly propped him up for so many years, the CIA ended up assassinatinghim. You see, Trujillo had - like Manuel Noriega and Saddam Hussein -been using his position to enrich himself rather than the US. So, theCIA assassinated him in 1961. For further information, read "The CIA'sGreatest Hits" by Mark Zepezauer.

nicole-a-brooks001 2013-05-05 19:11:57

IT was the best movie ever

This was a great movie. It taught me about struggles that people otherthan African Americans went through. It taught me about how i shouldappreciate my country and my freedom.This movie is the best movie ihave yet to see. The actors were great and the movie kept me wanting tosee more.This movie showed how greed,power,and money can affect acountry.This movie is showed me that lots of people from all over theworld went through some hard times. The Dominican republic never gaineda strong government and thats why Americans should be grateful that wehave a not great but good government and freedom of speech. I could notimagine having to live through the things they lived through. Eventhough the movies was not filmed in the Dominican Repubic or filmedwith Dominicans it doesn't matter. Where it was made or who made itdoesn't matter the fact is the story was told and the movie was made.

2013-05-04 22:50:42

Great Inspiration

Absolutely one of the greatest stories of human spirit, triumph and unwavering belief of the power to change the course of social history. It was a very touching and very powerful inspiration for me as a woman...especially a Latina woman. It woke up something in me that I have long ago supressed. It gave me renewed strength and impacted me in ways I have never knew a film could do. LONG LIVE THE BUTTERFLIES!!

B-Rabbit 2013-05-04 06:28:57

Powerful, Spiritual!!!

Freedom is not free! Since their father died, the butterflies have never stopped fighting against Trujillo and his dark regime, even in time when they were in prison. Minerva was not the first revolutionary but one of the most important ones. Her passion and braveness have waken up thousands of people, who were suffered from Trujillo's regime, and encouraged uncountable people to stand up for their freedom. Long live the butterflies!

2013-05-01 20:12:56

A disappointment to readers of Alvarez's fine literary work

IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES was based on the book by Julia Alvarez and as the saying goes this book was much better than the movie. There are key points left out of the movie, such as Patria's husband not wanting Minerva (Selma Hayek's character) to hide the guns on their farm.Also compared to the book, the way Maria Teresa met Palomino was entirely different from the book. Minerva was willing to let Maria Teresa stay with them but it was during her first night that Palomino entered with a shipment of guns. In the movie however, Minerva throws Maria Teresa out and Palomino goes after her. The wedding of Maria Teresa and Palomino was also left out.Also, by the looks of the movie there were only three sisters. There were FOUR. Patria, Dede, Minerva, and Maria Teresa. However the three shown were Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa. What was left out was that Dede was also asked to join the revelution and does so reluctantly. I was also not crazy about the way that the movie was narrated. In the movie Minerva was narrating the story from solitary confinement but in the book Dede was narrating the story from a museum that she had set up in memory of her sisters. The death scene also troubled me, I am reluctant to give away details for those who have not seen the movie so I won't get into it. I can't recommend this movie to anyone, unless there is really bad weather and you've seen all the other movies in the local video store.

2013-05-01 15:36:07

"Justice? Here? There is no justice."

From 1931 until his assassination in 1960, Rafael Trujillo (El Jefe) was the brutal dictator of the Dominican Republic, remaining in power with the silent acquiescence of a fearful church, the aristocracy, intellectuals, and the press. Based on Julia Alvarez's strong novel of the same name, this film focuses on the role of the Mirabal sisters, known as "las Mariposas" (the Butterflies), in opposing Trujillo's brutal rule. As children living comfortably in the country, the Mirabal sisters had been protected from the political dangers of the city. When three of the four sisters, Minerva (Salma Hayek), Mate (Mia Maestro) and Patria (Lumi Cavazos) decide to go to a convent school in the city, leaving sister Dede (Pilar Padilla) behind, they are exposed for the first time to the realities of Trujillo's rule.Some years later, Minerva, Mate, and Patria, now attractive young women, gain the unwelcome attention of El Jefe at a dance. When Minerva slaps his face because he fondles her, he retaliates by arresting and torturing her father. Vowing a personal revenge against him, Minerva eventually joins other students who work to foment rebellion--printing leaflets, distributing guns in the countryside, and speaking to women's groups. When Mate and Patria eventually join her, the three become known as Las Mariposas, "the Butterflies." Jailed and tortured when they are caught by Trujillo's army, they and their husbands hope that by their example they will make life better for their children and for their country.Director Mariano Barroso sacrifices the broad scope and universal themes of the book by concentrating almost exclusively on the personal lives of "las Mariposas," the risks they took, and the tortures they endured. This narrow focus removes the Mirabal sisters from their political context and diminishes the sacrifices of thirty thousand other Dominicans who were executed by Trujillo. Though the four sisters are clearly differentiated in the book and show the important and quite different reasons that people do or do not fight a dictator, here they are virtually indistinguishable from each other, another sacrifice of the broad picture in favor of easier myth-making.Salma Hayek is gorgeous, even under jailhouse conditions, posing so attractively in her closeups that it is difficult to imagine her as a committed revolutionary. Edward James Olmos, as Trujillo, alternately sneers and smirks but remains mostly an off-screen presence. Several scenes of sadistic violence stir the emotions, but do not provide the catharsis of real tragedy. Though it is admirable that Hollywood chose to memorialize "the Butterflies," it is too bad that the film feels more like a Hollywood production than a memorial to the very real women who made such real sacrifices. Mary Whipple

2013-04-30 05:15:09

Not an great adaptation

Although the film was entertaining, it was in no way an accurate adaptation of Alvarez's novel. I'm very disappointed.

2013-04-29 15:56:22

Mirabal/Butterflies

I think the movie was great but I feel it should have had more content as far as culture and life style of Dominicans in that era. I haven't read the book yet, but many films don't stick to the letter of the book. The film, although true, ended too sad -- too abruptly. I think it should have shown the outcome of their legacy and how it is remembered in Latin American countries.