In the time of the Butterflies

1. In the time of the Butterflies Ernscie Augustin HDFS 892 Film Review

2. In the time of the Butterflies: Brief Description • Location/Time Period: Dominican Republic between 1930’s-1960’s under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo • Parents addressed as MaMa & PaPa • Four Maribal sisters: Maria, Minerva, DeDe, and Patria • “The Butterflies”: The name of the movement and undercover name for Minerva when she was working against the regime(the name given by Minervas first love Lio). • Leonidas Trujillo: Dictator • Youth Development & global Issues: Education inequality, politics, gender inequality, safety, religion/church, fear, violence, and oppression.

3. “Las Mariposas” The Butterflies • The film in the time of the butterflies, is a film about the bravery of a Dominican family that refused to submit to the regime of Leonidas Trujillo. In a country where fear, violence, and oppression comes naturally the people were told what their identity was instead of being themselves. The film touches on many global issues today and in the past. While watching this film you have no choice but to think about how your ancestors put their lives on the line for your freedom and how many people continue to lay their lives down today!

4. Trujillo in Power • Trujillo had so much power that he can take • a young girl away from their parents and have • sexual relations with them. That was a way he • showed his power. One day he invited Minerva • and her family to his event. He asked Minerva to • dance and grabbed her butt. She slapped him • and he was angered. Days later her father was • arrested on false charges(due to the incident). • Minerva rolled a die with Trujillo to determine her fathers release(if she wins she attends law school & father is released)She won! Few weeks later when her father was released his heart gave up from all the torture from the jail. Minerva felt very guilty it was her fault he was killed. He also killed her lover Lio. Trujillo was determined to ruin her life and she was determined to overthrow the regime.

5. The political movement • Women were not allowed to attend law school. Minerva was the only woman! This was a form of educational inequality! Soon she started a movement and used all the tools she learned in law school. Unfortunately, on graduation day Trujillo did not give her a certificate. He told her you said attend law school not practice law. Minerva and her sister continued the fight until they were thrown in jail.

6. Conclusion of Film:“Las Mariposas” The Butterflies • Fighting to overthrow the regime and expose the truth was the mission of the Las Mariposas. Trujillo killed thousands of people that tried to stand against him and was determined to kill the butterflies. • End of film: The three sisters were beaten to death by Trujillo crew. “The death of the Mirabal sisters was the final blow to the regime of Leonidas Trujillo who was assassinated six months later”(Barroso,2001).

7. Global Issue & Perspective • Global Issues: Education inequality, politics, gender roles/inequality, safety, religion/church, fear, violence, and oppression. • The global perspective I got from the film is learning how the Dominican culture/families operated in the time of the regime and in the household. For example, in the household the children must obey and respect their parents. The father had authority and the mother had his support over the children. The girls had chores and everything was routine. They were afraid to speak against Trujillo to the point they closed the windows when Minerva was speaking about the issues of the regime. This is the way some people continue to live around the world today.

8. International Youth • The theory of international youth is covered throughout the movie. I was able to see how youth in other countries lived day by day. Three sisters grew up with a fun childhood but were often reminded that education is limited due to their gender. The parents wanted to protect the girls from the truth that comes along with standing up to Trujillo. For example, the father had to hide letters that Lio(her lover that went away to push the movement to overthrow Trujillo) wrote to Minerva because he knew that Lio was going against Trujillo. Deadly politics created an atmosphere of fear and the brave were killed, arrested, and tortured. The children in this country were raised to live in fear.

9. Positive Youth Development • Positive Youth Development: The youth had to create their own voice and work with others to push the Butterfly movement forward. For example, they made flyers and shipped them to many people exposing Trujillo. Their parents often discouraged them from exposing Trujillo. They lived under many pressures and I can understand how parents would fear to lose their children to him. The sisters were the leading opponents(in the movement) against the dictatorship by Gen. Trujillo. This shows that youth around the world are getting involved in politics and making their voices heard. These girls left their families/children behind and lost their lives to push the movement forward.

10. Conclusion • The film In the time of the Butterflies gave me insight on the global issues. There are many wars going on and the youth are in the mist of it all.They are involved politically, socially, and physically. This gave me a deeper perspective and the role of the youth in societies all over the world is very important for the future.

11. Cite Page Barroso, M. (Director) (2001). In the time of the butterflies [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi840368153/