Romero

The story of Monsignor Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, who denounced the repression of civilians by government forces and was assassinated by a death squad while saying Mass on 24 March 1980, an event which historically marks the beginning of the Salvadoran Civil War which lasted from 1980 to 1992.

The brutality of the military dictatorship that ran El Salvador during the 1970s and '80s is legendary and although the violence of the time is an essential part of this film the principal focus is on Romero and his journey from a quietist conservative sympathizer with those resisting military repression to being “the voice of the people”. 

Produced by the Paulist Fathers, an organization associated with the Catholic church, it is a highly tendentious film, drawing a simple division between the self-interested rich and the good-hearted poor and telling Romero‘s story very much in the tradition of martyrological literature. Unsubtle but insofar as the film is meant to inspire noble emotions it is not necessarily a bad thing.

Whilst Duigan’s direction is obliging to the overall purpose of the film, the latter works largely thanks to the marvellous performance by Raul Julia who brings home Romero’s conflicts of faith and ultimate commitment to action with controlled intensity.  Fortunately El Salvador’s dark times are gone but Romero is still worth watching as a reminder of what it can take to defeat evil.

Available from: Umbrella Entertainment

 

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