Introduction

Romero is a 1989 biographical film depicting the story of Salvadoran archbishop Óscar Romero, who organised peaceful protests against the violent military regime, eventually at the cost of his own life.

The film stars Raúl Juliá as Oscar Romero, Richard Jordan as Romero’s close friend and fellow martyred priest, Rutilio Grande, as well as actors Ana Alicia and Harold Gould. Although the film depicts true events, there are some fictional characters.

Outline

During the 1977 El Salvadoran presidential election, public unrest is at an all-time high over fears of election fraud. In the midst of a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla insurgency by the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, the anti-communist military dictatorship uses death squads to abduct, torture and “disappear” anyone who speaks about their terrible human rights record. The military also prevents average voters from getting to the polls; soldiers are shown blocking a bus bringing people to town on election day. When the people decide to walk, the military shoots up their vans so that they have no transportation for the return journey.

The Vatican elevates theologically conservative Oscar Arnulfo Romero (Raul Julia) to the position of Archbishop of San Salvador, hoping that he will not get involved in politics. Although apolitical, Romero is afraid of the government’s increasing hostility. He initially refrains from stirring anti-government sentiments, but, as he spends more time as archbishop, he sees evidence of deception, oppression, and systemic murder, after which he cannot support the government in good conscience and begins to speak out. After the assassination of Father Rutilio Grande (Richard Jordan), an outspoken Jesuit advocate for the poor and close friend of Father Romero’s, Romero begins to take a stand against the government’s policies, prompting the government to retaliate by ordering death squads to target the priests of his Archdiocese.

After failing to rescue a pro-government hostage of the Pro-Soviet guerrillas in a botched ransom, Romero discovers that his friend Father Osuna (Alejandro Bracho), a militant critic of the military regime, has been captured and tortured. After securing his release, Romero instigates a boycott of the president-elect’s inauguration, defying him by saying Mass in a church the Salvadoran military has taken over as a barracks. He later attempts to secure the release of a soldier taken hostage with Fr. Osuna by the guerrillas, but is arrested in the process. Fr. Osuna is subsequently tortured to death, despite Romero’s protesting pleas.

Undeterred, Romero rejects the violent methods of the guerrillas, but is nonetheless assassinated while saying Mass, specifically while consecrating the Eucharist. The film concludes with text stating:

Archbishop Romero was murdered on March 24, 1980. He had spoken the disturbing truth. Many chose not to listen. As a result, between 1980 and 1989 more than 60,000 Salvadorians were killed. But the struggle for peace and freedom, justice and dignity goes on.

By 1992, when the Salvadorian Civil War ended (three years after the movie was made), the total number of Salvadorians killed had increased to over 75,000.

Cast

• Raúl Juliá as Archbishop Óscar Romero, archbishop of San Salvador
• Richard Jordan as Father Rutilio Grande, SJ
• Alejandro Bracho as Father Alfonzo Osuna, SJ
• Tony Plana as Father Manuel Morantes, SJ
• Evangelina Elizondo as Josephina Gatedo
• Lucy Reina as Lucia, Poor Campesino. (Fictional Character)
• Ana Alicia as Arista Zelada, An Upper-Class Friend of Romero’s. (Fictional Character)
• Omar Chagall as Rafael Zelada, The Minister of Agriculture and Arista’s Husband (Fictional character)
• Harold Gould as Francisco Galedo, Arista’s Rich Father (Fictional Character.)
• Eddie Velez as Lieutenant Ricardo Columa, Right-Wing Military and Political Leader (Fictional Character)
• Robert Viharo as Colonel Ernesto Dorio (Fictional Character)
• Harold Cannon as General Carlos Humberto Romero, Military Dictator of El Salvador from 1977 to 1979 (No Relation to Archbishop Romero)
• Al Ruscio as Bishop Estrada, The Military Vicar of El Salvador and Opponent of Romero
• Claudio Brook as Bishop Flores, Vacillating Bishop
• Martin LaSalle as Bishop Arturo Rivera y Damas, Bishop of Santiago de María (He Became Archbishop of San Salvador After Romero’s Death)
• Eduardo López Rojas as Bishop Cordova, An Ally of Romero
• Tony Perez as Father Rafael Villez, Secretary of The Bishops’ Conference

Production

An international co-production between the United States and Mexico, Romero is the first feature film from Paulist Pictures, a company founded by the Paulist Fathers, a Roman Catholic society of priests. This was the first time a Catholic company produced a major film.

The company was also known for the production of a long-standing television series called Insight. The film was screened in 1989 at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was directed by Australian filmmaker John Duigan and produced by Paulist Pictures founder Father Ellwood (Bud) Kieser. Alfonso Cuarón, a Mexican film director, worked as an assistant director for this film. Composer Gabriel Yared, who went on to win BAFTA Awards and an Oscar for his other scores, composed the music for Romero.

The movie was filmed in Mexico and set in El Salvador.

Trivia

• Romero did receive criticism on how it did not shed light on US involvement.
• General Carlos Humberto Romero, who was the militant dictator of El Salvador between the years 1977 to 1979, and played in the film by Harold Cannon, was unrelated to Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero (Raul Julia), though the two shared the same last name.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • John Duigan
• Producer(s):
  • Lewis Abel … associate producer
  • Ellwood Kieser … producer
  • Lawrence Mortorff … executive producer
  • Michael Ray Rhodes … supervising producer (as Michael Rhodes)
  • John Sacret Young … executive producer
• Writer(s):
  • John Sacret Young … (written by)
• Music:
  • Gabriel Yared
• Cinematography:
  • Geoff Burton
• Editor(s):
  • Frans Vandenburg
• Production:
  • Consejo estatal de cine, teatro y televisión
  • Paulist Pictures
  • Paulist Productions
• Distributor(s):
  • Four Square (United States, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Warner Bros. (United Kingdom, 1989)(theatrical)
  • CBS (United States, 1991)(broadcast premiere, TV)
  • Concorde Film (Netherlands, 1991)(Amsterdam, theatrical)
  • Filmpac Distribution (Australia, 1989)(theatrical)
  • Cineglobe (Canada, 1990)(VHS)
  • Concorde Video (Netherlands, 1991)(VHS)
  • Excalibur Benelux (Belgium, 1991)(VHS)
  • Pioneer Entertainment (United States, 1997)(LaserDisc, video)
  • Trimark Home Video (United States, 2000)(DVD)
  • Vidmark Entertainment (United States, 1990)(VHS)
  • Vision Video (United States, 2009)(DVD)
  • Warner Home Video (Germany, 1990)(VHS)
  • Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil)(VHS)
• Release Date: 25 August 1989.
• Running Time: 102 minutes.
• Rating: PG-13.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)