Code Name: Butterflies

In the 1950s, Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal - who were known by their codename "The Butterflies" - created an underground resistance movement against Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic. On November 25, 1960, Trujillo had all three sisters assassinated. The assassinations turned the Mirabal sisters into national heroines and symbols of feminist resistance. The documentary interweaves interviews with over forty witnesses to the story, including the Mirabal family friends, colleagues, co-revolutionaries, teachers, and most importantly, their surviving sister, Dedé, along with dramatic reenactments and archival footage.

Directed by Cecilia Domeyko, Code Name: Butterflies leans on a strong ensemble — María Teresa Mirabal, Minerva Mirabal, Patria Mirabal — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2009.