In the Time of the Butterflies | 
 enlarge | Director: Mariano Barroso
Actors: Salma Hayek, Edward James Olmos, Mia Maestro, Demian Bichir, Pilar Padilla
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $3.00
You Save: $6.98 (70%)
New (45) Used (58) from $1.87
Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 10650
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), German (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 92 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D1002802D
ISBN: 0792852478
UPC: 027616869999
EAN: 9780792852476
ASIN: B000063K0I
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Release Date: May 7, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Factory Sealed, Thousands of Titles Listed, Fast Processing
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Amazon.com
In the Time of the Butterflies tells the real-life story of the Mirabal sisters, courageous revolutionaries known covertly as las Mariposas ("the Butterflies"). The sisters' years of dissent during the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic led to their eventual murder in 1960, a brutal crime that signaled the beginning of the end for Trujillo. Told through the eyes of Minerva Mirabal (Salma Hayek), the story follows a somewhat predictable plot line as the sisters progress rapidly from naive to idealistic to victimized and on to resolved as they become leaders in an elaborate plot to assassinate the dictator. As with so many biographical depictions on film, even though this one is based on a highly acclaimed novel by Julia Alvarez, the narrative shifts from past to present are clumsy and excessively sepia-toned; the script delivers its life-was-better-before-sequence with little to no grace before quickly connecting the dots of history. Nevertheless, Edward James Olmos, as Trujillo, does a remarkable job of conveying the unique mixture of political intuition and ruthlessness needed to maintain a dictatorship for 30 years, while Hayek delivers a spirited lead performance. --Fionn Meade
Description
Academy Award nominee* Salma Hayek gives a powerful, passionate performance as an idealistic young woman who wages a daring struggle for freedom against a murderous dictator (Academy Award nominee** Edward James Olmos) in this moving thriller that, "with brutal simplicity, dramatizes the personal toll of political tyranny" (San Francisco Chronicle). For generations, General Rafael Trujillo (Olmos) has ruled the Dominican Republic with a mixture of terrorand savagery until Minerva Mirabal (Hayek) dares to oppose him. Inspired by her love for a rebel leader (Marc Anthony), Minerva and her sistersknown as Las Mariposas ("The Butterflies")endure unimaginable hardships in a battle for the very soul of a nation. But as their acts of bravery gain notoriety, Trujillo's forces close in, determined to put an end to Minerva's heroics. *Actress, Frida (2002) **Actor, Stand and Deliver (1988)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
 Good story not that great of a film. March 21, 2008
Allie M (Columbus, OH USA)
I love the story, the movie just wasn't as good as I had expected. Perhaps as usual the book is better.
 Disney Adaptation of the Brutal Trujillo Dictatorship March 1, 2008
D. Kanigan (CT, USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Trujillo was the brutal dictator of the Dominican Republic from 1931 until his assassination in 1960. This movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Julia Alvarez. To get a real picture and story of the regime and its impact on the DR people, read the book and pass on the movie which with feels like a Disney movie adaptation. This movie highlights the role of the Mirabal sisters in opposing Trujillo's brutal rule albeit it really falls short of making you feel the universal fear, pain and suffering of the DR people during the time. The sisters and their husbands and family members are jailed and tortured in their quest for justice and a better future for their family and their country. It is hard to imagine (impossible) that Salma Hayek in her fine dresses and attire was a serious revolutionary against a Dictator who slaughtered 30,000 people during his reign. This would be a good introductory "light" movie for those interested in getting a feel for the DR during the Trujillo times.
 A fair overview of real History January 22, 2008
Jose R. Bas (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico)
A friend of mine who is also interested in History told me about this movie and I am glad I bought it. It deals with a real part of the Dominican Republic's History. Maybe it is not accurate, but it sticks to the fact that Trujillo was a cruel dictator in that country for many years, just as "La Fiesta del Chivo" (Vargas Llosa) did. Made in English for the American public, it misses the fact that the United States helped and sponsored all the dictators who ruled in Latin American and Caribbean countries at that time. Somoza in Nicaragua, Batista and those before him in Cuba, Pinochet in Chile, and Trujillo in DR, just to mention a few, were placed in power to protect American interests in those countries. The movie does not portray this fact which would have made it educational for that public.
Potential but comes up short December 12, 2007
Enrique Torres (San Diegotitlan, Califas)
I watched this movie recently with several family members and must say that considering the subject matter it left us feeling flat. The storyline is predictable, especially if you know the history of "El Jefe" or the story of the sisters and the mariposas(butterflies). Many people here at Amazon have done a good job of describing(beware of spoilers)the movie so I'll skip that part in this review. The story lines adapted from the book are weak, the characters only somewhat believeable but overall it is a shallow depiction of the ruthless regime of Trujillo. The black and white photographas in the beginning lend credibility to the story, are quite graphic, as are the torture scenes but otherwise the movie is luke warm; the action or suspense never heats up. Edward Olmos is good as Trujillo but there is not enough of him. His character seems almost benevolent, the father-like figure of the country who rules with a firm but gentle hand. If we could have seen more of his anger,his suspicion of others, his ruthless and vile conduct it would have been more interesting. Selma Hayek was very good and pretty much dominated the film. I agree with the another reviewer that more attention should have been given to the collective body of work of the sisters. Essentially this is one of those movies you might want to only rent rather than buy. There just isn't enough there to spend your money on. Recommended for movie buffs who like a little history based on a book that does a much better job of telling a story.
A little sentimental, but interesting November 19, 2007
Dr. James R. Cavett III (Mississippi)
A fascinating time in history in a rare film treatment. I look forward to when The Feast of the Goat finally makes it to DVD, North American region. This film offers only fair performances from Selma Hayek and Edward James Olmos. A long stay in a notorious prison by Selma Hayek somehow manages to have no effect on her drop dead looks and figure. Still, it's a glimpse of an important time in American (not just U.S.) history that is little known to U.S. citizens.
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