Mariposas del Campo is a thought-provoking study on immigration in America. The title translates to ‘Butterflies of the Field’; a very poetic way of connecting the film’s subjects. Each has spent at least some time working the strawberry fields as a teenager. This compelling documentary uses mixed footage to tell the stories of a handful of young Mixtecan- and Zapotec-American teenagers from 2016 through 2018. Some content is professional interviews while some are fly-on-the-wall style documentation and still others are vlog-style self-reporting from the kids themselves. This allows the subjects of the documentary to really control where the film goes.
Each of the ‘mariposas’ has a different focus, but they are all bound together by a collective hope for something better. It’s a sort of destiny for better or worse. In an odd way, the focus on this sub-group of immigrants brings to light how similar their situation is to many Americans: their parents work hard so their children can go to school, their grades aren’t good enough to earn full-ride scholarships, and their parent’s businesses flounder and they feel a responsibility to help in spite of their desire for an education. All of these issues are complicated by their immigration status and indigenous roots.
If you watch one film about Central American cultures or American Immigration this year, it should be Mariposas del Campo. It is a bold act of cultural preservation and shows the human cost of the continuing animosity of our government and many individual Americans towards those who simply seek a better life within the great mixing pot that is our nation. Highlighted are many different cultural traditions from Oaxaca and beyond as well as spoken Mixtecan and Zapotec.
This documentary shows that there are no illegal people, just people. Mariposas del Campo is an intimate and honest look into the lives of undocumented children and tells many stories which need to be heard and amplified. This documentary is outstanding and highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Editor’s Choice.
What type of library programming could use this title?
Library programming about Mixtecan or Zapotec culture could benefit from the addition of Mariposas del Campo.
What academic subjects would this film be suitable for?
Those studying Mexico, Mexican Indigenous cultures, and documentary filmmaking will find interest in Mariposas del Campo.