Anthony Edwards Movie:

Editorial Review:
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

In the Time of the Butterflies Reviews:
Satisfied
2008-11-10 - This movie was really interesting, it shows life for the people who live under a dictator. Very good acting in the part of Selma Hyak and Edward Olmos. Selma's character was that of a strong and determined woman.

In the Time of the Butterflies
2008-11-02 - Engaging film that brings to life the 1950s in Dominican Republic under the Trujillo dictatorship. The most "useful" line in the film suggests that Trujillo's goal is to whiten the population via ethnic cleansing.

Must see for all Latinos.
2008-10-12 - If your into history and culture than this is a great movie to watch or add to your collection. As a Dominican- American living in the USA it was great for me to see how my parents and my ancestors paved the way for me. The Genecide of Dominicans was cruel and real. A most see!

Good story not that great of a film.
2008-03-21 - 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
2008-03-01 - 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.