In+the+Time+of+the+Butterflies

//In the Time of the Butterflies// allowed me to understand more fully life under a dictator’s rule. Before watching this, I had thought that living under a dictator was dangerous only for people who openly opposed the government and had extreme ideas of overthrowing their leader. It did not occur to me that even small, humble, and obedient families such as the Mirabals could or would be punished so terribly. I could not believe how Minerva and her family were treated by their government even before she began organizing rebellious acts. I was very surprised that Trujillo had her father arrested because of the incident at the party, especially because her father worked hardest of all to keep everyone out of trouble with the government. Although I understood he had the power to do this, I still thought it was ridiculous and even immature that he held a grudge against what seemed to me to be such a minor offense. I also thought it was crazy how much the government lied, and more so how most citizens of the Dominican Republic actually believed those lies. When Minerva began working with the rebel group within her law school, she stated that their biggest goal was first to let the public see how many people were going missing or dying. I was surprised that this was their top priority because I had assumed that most people already knew that and were smart enough to at least suspect that something was wrong when so many of their friends disappeared. One other thing that changed my view on life under a dictator was how people were tortured and killed, again, even for little offenses. It is one thing to hear about people going missing, being tortured, and being killed, but watching this movie allowed me to see just how often these procedures were instituted and how many people were abused every day. The scene at the end of the movie, when the three sisters were brought into a cornfield, shocked me the most, even though I knew what was coming the moment they were told to get out of the car. I realized in this scene that people in countries with evil dictators really are, quite literally, dragged off into desolate places and murdered when they are kidnapped by their government.

I wish you had commented on how the US considered Trujillo a "good guy".

9.5/10