The documentary introduces the main character, Maraleen Manos-Jones, whose life has been guided by monarch butterflies for over fifty years. As a witness to the diminishment of monarchs and all pollinators here and in Mexico she has become a strong advocate for protecting their habitats and inspiring others to do the same.

A chance encounter with a caterpillar on Cape Cod changed the course of her life. Witnessing the incredible process of transformation of the caterpillar into a magnificent monarch up close and personally was a profound soul stirring experience.

Raising and releasing hundreds of monarchs over the ensuing years, she soon began tagging them for the Insect Migration Association to help ascertain their final destination in Mexico, unknown at the time. In the August 1976 National Geographic an article by the Dr. Urquhart, Director of the I.M.A.: Found at Last: the Monarchs Winter Home. He would not tell her or anyone else the exact location of the monarchs destination in Mexico.

In early 1977, she journeyed to Mexico to discover where all her monarchs overwintered and would report back to Dr. Urquhart the result of her quest.

She explored innumerable mountains over the next two months, learning the importance of butterflies in Mexican iconography and myth. The stories resonated with her as it became clear that she was not only on a literal search, but a spiritual quest, stepping into the magical world of butterflies in Mexico with many lessons to learn along the way.

She returned almost every year following that initial journey, connecting with the mountain people while becoming close to the family of Valentin Velasquez, her guide when camping among the monarchs in the late 1970’s, (the only person allowed to do so) The documentary gives voice to the indigenous people’s perspective on the monarchs before, during, and after the deluge of tourists coming to experience this most sacred place of millions of monarchs.

Butterflies along with bees and other pollinators play an important role in ensuring the productivity of a third of our food and are an important part of the intricate tapestry of life. They have graced our planet for about 70 million years and will continue to do so with simple actions that we can all take to ensure that they to do so.