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Romero

  • 1989
  • PG-13
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
Raul Julia in Romero (1989)
The life and work of Archbishop Oscar Romero who opposed, at great personal risk, the tyrannical repression in El Salvador.
Play trailer1:46
2 Videos
18 Photos
Political ThrillerBiographyCrimeDramaHistoryThrillerWar

The life and work of Archbishop Oscar Romero who opposed, at great personal risk, the tyrannical repression in El Salvador.The life and work of Archbishop Oscar Romero who opposed, at great personal risk, the tyrannical repression in El Salvador.The life and work of Archbishop Oscar Romero who opposed, at great personal risk, the tyrannical repression in El Salvador.

  • Director
    • John Duigan
  • Writer
    • John Sacret Young
  • Stars
    • Raul Julia
    • Richard Jordan
    • Ana Alicia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Duigan
    • Writer
      • John Sacret Young
    • Stars
      • Raul Julia
      • Richard Jordan
      • Ana Alicia
    • 29User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:46
    Trailer
    Romero: Everybody Up!
    Clip 2:58
    Romero: Everybody Up!
    Romero: Everybody Up!
    Clip 2:58
    Romero: Everybody Up!

    Photos18

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    Top cast58

    Edit
    Raul Julia
    Raul Julia
    • Archbishop Oscar Romero
    Richard Jordan
    Richard Jordan
    • Father Rutilio Grande
    Ana Alicia
    Ana Alicia
    • Arista Zelada
    Eddie Velez
    Eddie Velez
    • Lt. Columa
    Alejandro Bracho
    • Father Alfonzo Osuna
    Tony Plana
    Tony Plana
    • Father Manuel Morantes
    Harold Gould
    Harold Gould
    • Francisco Galedo
    Lucy Reina
    • Lucia
    Al Ruscio
    Al Ruscio
    • Bishop Estrada
    Tony Perez
    Tony Perez
    • Father Rafael Villez
    Robert Viharo
    Robert Viharo
    • Col. Ernesto Dorio
    Harold Cannon
    Harold Cannon
    • Gen. Humberto
    Claudio Brook
    Claudio Brook
    • Bishop Flores
    Martin LaSalle
    Martin LaSalle
    • Bishop Rivera y Damas
    Eduardo López Rojas
    • Bishop Cordova
    Paco Mauri
    • Salvador Ramos
    • (as Francisco Mauri)
    Rubén Rojo
    Rubén Rojo
    • Archbishop Chavez
    Omar Chagall
    Omar Chagall
    • Rafael Zelada
    • (as Omar Rodríguez)
    • Director
      • John Duigan
    • Writer
      • John Sacret Young
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.22.5K
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    Featured reviews

    Coxer99

    Romero

    An absorbing film that tackles violence in the harshest terms and is led by an angelic performance by the great Raul Julia. Like "Schindler's List," Romero sacrifices everything for peace and survival. He's willing to stand with his people and take brutality as they do. A remarkable film!
    7LeRoyMarko

    Not outdated

    Even though the situation has changed considerably in El Salvador, this movie is still very enjoyable. I've seen it shortly after it was released and I just saw it again. Same verdict. Very good movie. Raul Julia is simply fabulous as Romero, the Archbishop who was talking about peace while it seems everybody else was talking about war. The final scene in the church is unforgettable.

    7 out of 10.
    8ccthemovieman-1

    The Film For Which Julia Will Be Remembered

    I'll always remember the name Raul Julio for this picture. I guess I don't really remember him in other films except for smaller roles. This was one of his acting career highlights, I would assume.

    This is a powerful movie based on history in the late '70s in El Salvardor, where a country's leaders were killing thousands of dissidents including clergy in the Roman Catholic Church. Julia plays "Archbishop Romero." He is interesting to watch and the center of the story.

    This is a violent, sometimes unpleasant movie to watch but if your concerned about profanity or sex, you don't have to worry: it's not here. That's hard to find in a modern action-drama.

    The downside was that despite the above, the story just wasn't that memorable to me. Also, I have serious questions about the slant in here. Knowing the film world, I know which way it would be politically and, frankly, I don't know the real story....but as a movie, it's not bad.
    7michellesart

    Archbishop Romero of El Salvador devotes his life to freeing his people from oppression

    Although not a very well made movie (the writing and editing are especially weak) the late Raul Julia's performance is stunning, as are the performances of many of his supporting cast. The journey his character (and presumably the actual archbishop Romero) makes from innocence to awareness is deeply moving and very convincing. His story is remarkable and well worth forgiving the director and editor for not realizing it's full potential. The impact is in Julia's performance and you'll be with him from the moment he fills the screen. Probably one of Raul Julia's most remarkable performances. Another performance worth note is that of the late Richard Jordan who, as Father Grande, helps lead the archbishop to an awareness of the suffering of his people.
    10Agent10

    Raul Julia's gift to cinema

    Raul Julia's finest moment as an actor was also one of the finest Latin American-themed films of all time. Julia portrayed the diligent bishop Oscar Romero with an aplomb which few actors could have embodied. Sadly, this film ends up as nothing but a blip on the map. Few people have actually experienced the power and creativity placed into this film. Perhaps it was too political or too dark, what ever the reason, it will remain one of my favorite films of all time. Perhaps years from now, the appreciation this movie deserves will be given to it.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in All the President's Men (1976)
    Political Thriller
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
    History
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the book 'Picture This!: A Guide to over 300 Environmentally, Socially, and Politically Relevant Films and Videos' (1992) by Sky Hiatt, "Romero (1989) was independently produced by Paulist Pictures, the Catholic media branch of the Paulist order. Father Ellwood E. Kieser [Reverend Ellwood Kieser] turned to the order and to various Catholic bishops to raise money for the film when Hollywood studios and all three American television networks turned him down".
    • Goofs
      In the opening scene when they are taking pictures of the crowd they are advancing the film manually, but there is the sound of a motorized drive.
    • Quotes

      Archbishop Oscar Romero: I'd like to make an appeal in a special way to the men in the army. Brothers, each one of you is one of us. We are the same People. The farmers and peasants that you kill are your own brothers and sisters. When you hear the words of a man telling you to kill, think instead in the words of God, "Thou shalt not kill!" No soldier is obliged to obey an order contrary to the Law of God. In His name and in the name of our tormented people who have suffered so much, and whose laments cry out to heaven: I implore you! I beg you! I *order* you!

      [shouts]

      Archbishop Oscar Romero: Stop the repressions!

    • Connections
      Featured in American Masters: Raul Julia: The World's a Stage (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Santo, Santo, Santo
      Written and Arranged by Grupo Yolocambaita

      Performed by Grupo Yolocambaita

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 25, 1989 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Ромеро
    • Filming locations
      • Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Consejo estatal de cine, teatro y televisión
      • Paulist Pictures
      • Paulist Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,316,495
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,189
      • Aug 27, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,316,495
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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