Romero

PG-13

Released Aug 25, 1989

1h 45m

Biography

List

82%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

80%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Archbishop Óscar Romero (Raul Julia) is reluctant to get involved in a war that rages on between the military elite and guerrilla Marxists in his country of El Salvador. As conditions worsen and more churches are desecrated, however, he finds he cannot remain an observer. So Romero resorts to what he knows best: making speeches. The tenets he preaches are simply freedom and justice, but even so, he is seen as dangerous by the government and they are ready to retaliate.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Where Romero excels as a film is in its depiction of its subject’s gradual transformation.

Rated: A-

May 8, 2002

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The film's weakness is a certain implacable predictability: We can feel at every moment what must happen next, and the over-all trajectory of the film seems ordained even in the first few shots. As a result, the film doesn't stir many passions.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Michael Bronski

Gay Community News (Boston)

Ultimately effective and moving.

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

A glaring depiction of how often holy men and women are martyred for standing up to evil men who willingly commit evil deeds.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 14, 2021

Full Review

Antonio Sison

National Catholic Reporter

As the story arc unfolds, Romero, in a state of inertia, is drawn into a gradual conversion experience, not just in a general sense, but in the specific trajectory of a "conversion to justice."

May 1, 2019

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 3, 2005

Full Review

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Audience Member

Es una muy buena representación de lo que sucedio en El Salvador y es impresionante ver como era este país a finales de los 70s

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A poignant and riveting overlook of Salvadorian corruption and Romero's life.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Serge L

It is a cheap TV movie but the acting, the story, the settings in particular, are all incredibly realistic. We feel the tensions very well. Romero was killed in 1980, the DVD and film mentioned 1989, but the civil war continued unti 1992. The film may have contributed to end the hostilities. It is depicting how harsh the conditions were and how violence begat more violence. Wikipedia says the issue now is gang wars. I wish them to find peace some day.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/16

Full Review

Audience Member

It is a cheap TV movie but the acting, the story, the settings in particular, are all incredibly realistic. We feel the tensions very well. Romero was killed in 1980, the DVD and film mentioned 1989, but the civil war continued unti 1992. The film may have contributed to end the hostilities. It is depicting how harsh the conditions were and how violence begat more violence. Wikipedia says the issue now is gang wars. I wish them to find peace some day.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not so much a meditation on liberation theology as an attempted inspirational biopic, pitting poverty against politics. Its technical quality limits its effectiveness.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A great bio-pic about a man who found his calling and became a martyr for the love of his people.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

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John Duigan

Director

Raul Julia

Archbishop Oscar Romero

Richard Jordan

Father Rutilio Grande

Ana-Alicia

Arista Zelada

Eddie Velez

Lt. Columa

Alejandro Bracho

Father Alfonzo Osuña

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Synopsis

Archbishop Óscar Romero (Raul Julia) is reluctant to get involved in a war that rages on between the military elite and guerrilla Marxists in his country of El Salvador. As conditions worsen and more churches are desecrated, however, he finds he cannot remain an observer. So Romero resorts to what he knows best: making speeches. The tenets he preaches are simply freedom and justice, but even so, he is seen as dangerous by the government and they are ready to retaliate.

Director: John Duigan
Producer: Lawrence Mortorff, John Sacret Young
Screenwriter: John Sacret Young
Production Co: Paulist Pictures, Paulist Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 25, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $167.0K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

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