Romero

The Vatican elevates Oscar Arnulfo Romero to Archbishop of San Salvador, hoping he remains apolitical. At first, Romero is cautious and wary of the government's hostility. He steps into his new role amid rising tensions and an atmosphere of fear.

During the 1977 presidential election, public unrest peaks as fears of fraud spread. The military blocks a bus carrying voters to town, and when people walk to vote, soldiers attack the vans to prevent a return journey. The atmosphere is dangerous for ordinary citizens trying to participate in the vote.

The assassination of Father Rutilio Grande, a close ally of Romero and advocate for the poor, shocks the church and the country. The murder exposes the depths of state violence and deception. Romero's resolve strengthens as he begins to speak out against the regime's abuses.

Romero shifts from cautious leadership to outspoken advocacy, using sermons and public statements to denounce human rights abuses. He confronts the government's lies and the violence faced by ordinary people. The church becomes a platform for protest and moral witness.

In response to Romero's criticisms, the military regime orders death squads to target priests and church leaders. The archdiocese becomes a focal point of repression as attacks on clergy intensify. The church stands at the frontline of the conflict.

A botched ransom attempt to rescue a pro-government hostage from guerrillas ends in failure. Following the failure, Romero learns that Father Osuna has been captured and subjected to torture. The personal cost of the conflict deepens Romero's resolve and fear for his friends.

After securing Osuna's release, Romero leads a boycott of the president-elect's inauguration. He defies the regime by saying Mass in a church the military has occupied as a barracks, turning a sacred space into a political statement. The act heightens tensions between the church and the state.

Romero attempts to secure the release of a soldier hostage together with Fr. Osuna, but is arrested in the process. The arrest marks a period of intensified repression and demonstrates the regime's intolerance for negotiation. The struggle between the church and the authorities escalates.

Despite Romero's protests, Fr. Osuna is tortured to death by security forces. Romero's pleas go unheard, underscoring the regime's brutal response to dissent. The death deepens Romero's moral resolve but also personal tragedy.

Romero, who rejects the violent methods of the guerrillas, is assassinated while saying Mass and consecrating the Eucharist. The murder shocks the nation and the wider world, highlighting the brutal toll of El Salvador's civil conflict.

The film closes with a text update: by 1992, when the Salvadorian Civil War ended, the total number of Salvadorans killed had risen to over 75,000. The statistic frames Romero's legacy within the broader national tragedy. The narrative links his martyrdom to the decades-long conflict.

The regime uses abductions, torture and disappearances to silence anyone who speaks about human rights abuses. The church becomes a refuge for dissidents, and Romero's witness amplifies those voices. The climate of fear saturates daily life in El Salvador.