Trópico de Sangre
Encyclopedia
Trópico de Sangre is a dramatic film based on the true story of the Dominican Republic
's historic Mirabal sisters
.
and tells the true story of how she and her sisters came to represent the greatest threat to dictator Rafael Trujillo and his regime
. The Mirabal sisters were involved in an underground movement against the government. They were assassinated in 1960 by men under the instruction of the Trujillo regime according to Pupo Roman, although their death was made to appear as an automobile accident. Many citizens were outraged and a few months later Trujillo was assassinated by an ambush led by Antonio de La Maza, who was played by actor Cesar Evora
.
Antonio de la Maza was killed in turn by a death squad lead by Ramfis Trujillo
.
The surviving sister, Dedé Mirabal
, consulted on and participated in the production of the film; she was portrayed by actress Celinés Toribio.
due to her past legal issues. Leiter threatened to sue Rodriguez and her co-producers citing illegal use of the Mirabal name, unless charitable organizations of his choice, including his own, were given all revenues, including Rodriguez's entire personal salary, from the film.
Within days, the film's writer/director Juan Delancer responded to such criticisms by stating "One does not need permission to bring history to film." Delancer pointed out that Dedé Mirabal
and the Mirabal family themselves approved of and supported the film and Rodriguez, with Dedé even appearing in the film as its narrator. Delancer also defended Rodriguez, as both a person and actress, saying it is impressive that "a figure of her stature who had just completed projects with the likes of Charlize Theron
(in Battle in Seattle) and James Cameron
(in Avatar)" would even participate in such a small production, let alone show such "undeniable" dedication to it as both an actress and producer.
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
's historic Mirabal sisters
Mirabal sisters
The Mirabal sisters were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Three of the sisters were assassinated by unknown persons...
.
Plot summary
The film focuses on Minerva MirabalMirabal sisters
The Mirabal sisters were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Three of the sisters were assassinated by unknown persons...
and tells the true story of how she and her sisters came to represent the greatest threat to dictator Rafael Trujillo and his regime
Regime
The word regime refers to a set of conditions, most often of a political nature.-Politics:...
. The Mirabal sisters were involved in an underground movement against the government. They were assassinated in 1960 by men under the instruction of the Trujillo regime according to Pupo Roman, although their death was made to appear as an automobile accident. Many citizens were outraged and a few months later Trujillo was assassinated by an ambush led by Antonio de La Maza, who was played by actor Cesar Evora
César Évora
César Évora is a Cuban actor.- Biography :Évora started out his career in his native Cuba appearing in more than ten movies before moving to Mexico in the early 1990s. He became known for playing minor roles in the seminal Corazón salvaje and the long-running Agujetas de color de rosa in 1993 and...
.
Antonio de la Maza was killed in turn by a death squad lead by Ramfis Trujillo
Ramfis Trujillo
Lieutenant General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Martínez , better known as Ramfis Trujillo, was the son of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina and María Martínez...
.
Cast
- Michelle RodriguezMichelle RodriguezMayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
as Minerva Mirabal - Juan Fernandez as Rafael Trujillo
- César ÉvoraCésar ÉvoraCésar Évora is a Cuban actor.- Biography :Évora started out his career in his native Cuba appearing in more than ten movies before moving to Mexico in the early 1990s. He became known for playing minor roles in the seminal Corazón salvaje and the long-running Agujetas de color de rosa in 1993 and...
as Antonio de la MazaAntonio de la MazaAntonio de la Maza was one of the conspirators in the assassination of Rafael Trujillo. He used Juan Tomas Diaz's shotgun to shoot Trujillo while he was driving at night to see his wife... - Claudette LaliClaudette LaliClaudette Lali is a Dominican-American former model and wardrobe stylist turned actress.-Early life:Lali was born in New York City. She was raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic until the age of 14.-Career:...
as Emilia Bencosme - Sergio CarloSergio CarloSergio Carlo is a Dominican actor best known for his role as Carbo, in Andy García's movie The Lost City and as Manolo Tavarez, opposite Michelle Rodriguez in the film Trópico de Sangre...
as Manuel "Manolo" Aurelio Tavárez Justo - Sharlene Taulé as Maria Teresa Mirabal
- Liche Ariza as Tomas Ovando
- Celines ToribioCelines Toribio-Biography:Toribio was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1996 she graduated from Lehman College with a Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications and a Minor in Theater...
as Dedé Mirabal - Luchi Estevez as Patria Mirabal
- Héctor Then as Priest Luis Peña González
- Johnnié Mercedes as Dr. Tejada Florentino
Filming information
The film debuted at the New York International Latino Film Festival on July 29, 2009.The surviving sister, Dedé Mirabal
Mirabal sisters
The Mirabal sisters were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Three of the sisters were assassinated by unknown persons...
, consulted on and participated in the production of the film; she was portrayed by actress Celinés Toribio.
Controversy
In July 2008, the president of the Minerval Mirabal Foundation, Carlos Leiter, publicly criticized the film, specifically the involvement of actress Michelle RodriguezMichelle Rodriguez
Mayte Michelle Rodríguez , known professionally as Michelle Rodriguez, is an American actress. Following on from her breakthrough role in 2000's Girlfight, she is best known for playing tough-girl roles and starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Fast and the Furious, Resident Evil,...
due to her past legal issues. Leiter threatened to sue Rodriguez and her co-producers citing illegal use of the Mirabal name, unless charitable organizations of his choice, including his own, were given all revenues, including Rodriguez's entire personal salary, from the film.
Within days, the film's writer/director Juan Delancer responded to such criticisms by stating "One does not need permission to bring history to film." Delancer pointed out that Dedé Mirabal
Mirabal sisters
The Mirabal sisters were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Three of the sisters were assassinated by unknown persons...
and the Mirabal family themselves approved of and supported the film and Rodriguez, with Dedé even appearing in the film as its narrator. Delancer also defended Rodriguez, as both a person and actress, saying it is impressive that "a figure of her stature who had just completed projects with the likes of Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is a South African actress, film producer and former fashion model.She rose to fame in the late 1990s following her roles in 2 Days in the Valley, Mighty Joe Young, The Devil's Advocate and The Cider House Rules...
(in Battle in Seattle) and James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
(in Avatar)" would even participate in such a small production, let alone show such "undeniable" dedication to it as both an actress and producer.
The Mirabal sisters in other media
- In the Time of the ButterfliesIn the Time of the ButterfliesIn the Time of the Butterflies is a historical novel by Julia Alvarez, relating an account of the Mirabal sisters during the time of the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic. The book is written in the first and third person, by and about the Mirabal sisters...
is a novelNovelA novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Julia ÁlvarezJulia ÁlvarezJulia Alvarez is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist. Born in New York of Dominican descent, she spent the first ten years of her childhood in the Dominican Republic, until her father's involvement in a political rebellion forced her family to flee the country.Alvarez rose to...
, fictionalizing the lives of the Mirabal sistersMirabal sistersThe Mirabal sisters were four Dominican political dissidents who opposed the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo. Three of the sisters were assassinated by unknown persons...
from their personal accounts of what happened during the time. The novel was later turned into a filmIn the Time of the Butterflies (film)In the Time of the Butterflies is a 2001 feature film, produced for the Showtime television network, directed by Mariano Barroso based on the Julia Álvarez book of the same name...
with the same name. It stars Salma HayekSalma HayekSalma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
, Marc AnthonyMarc AnthonyMarc Anthony is an American singer-songwriter, actor and producer. Anthony is the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time. The two-time Grammy and three-time Latin Grammy–winner has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. He is best known for his Latin salsa numbers and ballads...
and Edward James OlmosEdward James OlmosEdward James Olmos is an American actor and director. Among his most memorable roles are William Adama in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, Lt...
as the DominicanDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
dictator Rafael Leónidas TrujilloRafael Leónidas TrujilloRafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina , nicknamed El Jefe , ruled the Dominican Republic from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. He officially served as president from 1930 to 1938 and again from 1942 to 1952, otherwise ruling as an unelected military strongman...
.
- Dedé Mirabal still lives in the same household where they all grew up. She has been responsible for keeping their legend alive. At 85 years of age, she has recently released her book about her sisters and the events called Vivas en su jardin (Alive in their garden), published by Vintage Español/Random House Publishing.
- Another film project by the Dominican director Etzel Baez, called Crimen, has been left unfinished since 2006.