In the Time of the Butterflies

Story Line: Military dictator Rafael Trujillo (Olmos), who rules the Dominican Republic with an iron hand, is spurned by Minerva Mirabal (Hayek), the lover of rebel leader Virgilio Morales (Anthony). Minerva and her two sisters, known collectively as "The Butterflies," join the struggle for independence.

Bottom Line: The true-life saga of "Las Mariposas" (the Butterflies) is one filled with hardship and brutality, and to its credit, this made-for-cable drama doesn't flinch from depicting those conditions. To some extent, the story has been simplified, not to mention Hollywoodized--whatever other privations they endure, the Minerva sisters always have access to makeup and lip rouge. There's a suggestion that Trujillo specifically persecuted the Butterflies because Minerva refused his advances; maybe this was the case, but it doesn't have the ring of truth. Fine performances, especially by an earnest, passionate Hayek and a hackle-raising Olmos, keep Butterflies fluttering. Whether today's renters will embrace a harrowing tale of Latin American revolution can't be predicted, but the low unit cost and star names make it a pretty safe bet provided you don't go too deep. --Ed Hulse