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American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story ()

Cast: Stanley Rother

Release Date: August 25, 2026

Runtime: 2 hr. 3 mins.

Genre: Documentary

“American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story,” a feature-length documentary narrated by acclaimed actor Martin Sheen, tells the true story of an American priest who was murdered for refusing to abandon his people. Born on an Oklahoma farm, Father Stanley Rother left to serve the Indigenous Tz’utujil people of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, during the country’s brutal civil war. Immersing himself in the life of the community, he learned their language, shared their suffering, helped translate the New Testament into Tz’utujil and became a beloved spiritual father to the people he served. As violence and persecution closed in, Father Stan became convinced that “the shepherd cannot run,” and he returned to Guatemala from the U.S. knowing it could cost him his life. Only months later, masked gunmen broke into his rectory and murdered him. “American Martyr” reveals the witness of Blessed Stanley, whose courage, sacrificial love and unwavering faith continue to inspire audiences around the world.

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Synopsis

“American Martyr: The Stanley Rother Story,” a feature-length documentary narrated by acclaimed actor Martin Sheen, tells the true story of an American priest who was murdered for refusing to abandon his people. Born on an Oklahoma farm, Father Stanley Rother left to serve the Indigenous Tz’utujil people of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, during the country’s brutal civil war. Immersing himself in the life of the community, he learned their language, shared their suffering, helped translate the New Testament into Tz’utujil and became a beloved spiritual father to the people he served. As violence and persecution closed in, Father Stan became convinced that “the shepherd cannot run,” and he returned to Guatemala from the U.S. knowing it could cost him his life. Only months later, masked gunmen broke into his rectory and murdered him. “American Martyr” reveals the witness of Blessed Stanley, whose courage, sacrificial love and unwavering faith continue to inspire audiences around the world.