SALT LAKE CITY — Manuel Romero spent years researching his family’s 400-year journey from the mountains of New Mexico to the valleys of Utah for his book, Mi América: The Evolution of an American Family. Now, the studio Your Heritage Your Story, with help from his nephew, filmmaker Bryan Romero, is bringing those pages to life.
"I wrote the book to give my family a pedigree; Bryan made the movie to give that history a heartbeat," Manuel Romero said.
After an extensive road trip to their ancestral home of Penasco, New Mexico, in 2023, the two produced a documentary with a similar name: “Mi America, A Journey of Discovery.”
"My tío [uncle] provided the map, but the camera allowed us to actually walk the land our ancestors bled for," said Bryan Romero, who narrates the film.
The documentary offers a new perspective on the family saga, Manuel said; despite his years of research, the process of filming taught him new things about the family story. 
The project also strengthened the bond between uncle and nephew: Manuel was astounded by Bryan's enthusiasm, he said.
Bryan "had a lot of say in the editing. ... He added things that I thought were very key that I had not thought about, of the things he learned along the way," Manuel said.
The two begin the film by chronicling La Peregrinación a Chimayó, the traditional Good Friday pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó, a Roman Catholic Church in Chimayo, New Mexico. Each year for the pilgrimage, thousands of people walk to the historic adobe church for healing and tradition. 
Manuel scripted the documentary around Holy Week because faith is so central to the family.
"We thought, ‘What better time to go than on Good Friday?’” he said, adding that it “would tell a lot about the story, because I think it shows the passion of the people. These are the things we brought with us ... our faith, our language and our music."
For Bryan, who in the 1970s felt the sting of being a Catholic child in a predominantly Latter-Day Saints neighborhood, the experience was a revelation. 
"In that trip to New Mexico, I did learn a lot more about my culture and heritage that I did not know,” he said. “At the beginning, I kept going, 'What are they called? What is that word?'”
One example he gave was the word for canal, which in Spanish is “acequia.” “And I could not [remember] ... so it did help me to remember more about my culture and understand more," he said. 
The film also explores the history of the Romero family, who lived in Penasco for four centuries before moving to Utah in the 1960s. Manuel’s research even led to a discovery that changed his view of the family's Spanish label: a 1603 marriage between a Spanish settler and an Aztec princess.
"Our family was here before the Pilgrims,” Manuel said. “They [the general American public] don't get that ... this is part of the American story. This is part of the American fabric."
The documentary shows how the family maintained its identity despite pressure to assimilate. Because the region where they lived switchedfrom Spanish to Mexican to American rule, families like the Romeros adapted to survive. One generation called themselves Spanish for safety; the next, Mexican-American for opportunity; and the next Chicano for justice. The film argues all these labels are valid parts of the same family tree.
It also explores the loss of the Spanish language in the family. Because his grandmother only spoke Spanish, Bryan was never able to fully communicate with her. 
"That to me is one of the biggest things that I lost in this assimilation was my ability to speak Spanish. ... I never got to have a conversation with her," he said.
Despite that, Manuel believes the core of the culture survives. 
"Even if you have lost the language, you have not lost the culture. It is still in your DNA and your community," he said.
Another aspect of the film is an examination of the land grants taken from local families by the government and individuals who exploited the region. By highlighting the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid of 1967, the film shows that New Mexicans have always fought for their rights. Manuel believes the younger generation remains the rightful heirs to this history.
Going forward, Manuel hopes to submit the documentary to film festivals and streaming services. His primary goal is to reach young people so they can connect with their roots. He wants the Hispanic population in Utah to realize their history is a vital part of the American fabric.
"We all have a story,” Manuel said. “If you are curious and willing to do the work, you can find amazing things about who you are."
The Romeros have scheduled two free upcoming local screenings of the film. Manuel and Bryan are particularly encouraging families to bring their children and younger generations to the first screening, as they believe this history is a vital piece of identity that is often missing from school textbooks. 
For those unable to attend either screening, Manuel’s book remains available in hardcover and audiobook formats through his website, TheAmerica2020.com, which also provides additional interviews and historical resources for those curious about researching their own family legacies.
“Mi America, A Journey of Discovery” will be screened Thursday, March 26 at Jordan Commons Theaters (Theater #13), 9335 State St., Sandy. Doors open 6 p.m.; film begins 7 p.m.
A second screening will be held Sunday, April 12 at Brewvies Cinema Pub, 677 South 200 West, Salt Lake City. This is a 21+ venue. Doors will open at 6 p.m.; the film will start at 7 p.m.
The cost for both events is free, but donations will be accepted to help cover the cost of the venue.