Searching for Padre Martínez

Searching for Padre Martínez is a feature-length documentary that follows the journey of filmmaker PaulEspinosa as he seeks to rediscover the dramatic story of the New Mexican priest, educator and political activist, Antonio José Martínez. Espinosa grew up in New Mexico but never heard anything about Martínez. Like many Latino historical figures, he was erased from the history books. Espinosa first learned about Padre Martínez when he produced a four-hour series for PBS on the 1846 war between Mexico and the United States.

During Martínez’s lifetime, his native New Mexico ceased to belong to Spain, became part of Mexico, and then was conquered by the United States. Espinosa’s ancestors were Martínez’s contemporaries, and like Martínez, they didn’t cross the border, the border crossed them. Despite never leaving home, they had to negotiate dramatic cultural changes after the U.S. conquest.

Once he stumbled across him, Espinosa realized that Martínez’s struggles paralleled many contemporary issues and raised provocative questions. The film’s narrative arc follows Espinosa’s contemporary journey to uncover connections between his ancestors and Padre Martínez, reflecting on Martínez’s leadership in planting the seeds of democracy at a time when everyone was used to living in an autocracy and obeying a monarch.

The story will be told with a variety of elements including: an engaging narrative of Espinosa’s journey through northern New Mexico, impressionistic animation of key historical scenes, informed interviews with articulate scholars, the creative presentation of the words of Martínez and his contemporaries, a wealth of colorful archival images, and attractive scenes of contemporary New Mexican landscapes.

In mid-19 th century Taos, New Mexico, Martínez faced the challenge of bringing different groups together – cultural, ethnic, religious, political – against a backdrop of bloody insurrections. His efforts provide a model of creative leadership for a fragile, emerging democracy. Martínez understood that for a democratic republic to survive and thrive, an educated and involved community is indispensable.

Martínez was a fierce advocate for education, bringing the first printing press to the West where he published books for his co-educational, primary school and created the region’s first newspaper – El Crepúsculo de la Libertad (The Dawning of Liberty). Through publishing books – and not banning them – Martínez was committed to the aspirational ideals of critical thinking, religious tolerance and human rights, all aimed at pursuing a more perfect union in a fledgling democracy.

Martínez’s life raises intriguing questions. How did he plant the seeds of democracy in the remote American Southwest when autocrats and monarchs claimed absolute power? How did an activist priest like Martínez navigate turbulent times and strike a balance between religion and politics - a busy and volatile intersection that fuels vigorous public debate today? Why did his farsighted ideas about representative democracy, faith and liberal education disappear from the official story?

Today, some believe we might be in the last days of democracy, as we witness vicious assaults on our democratic institutions, amid heightened partisanship and increasing political violence. It’s a timely moment to revisit the troubling times of the 19 th century when democracy was first emerging in the Southwest. The story of Padre Martinez provides a surprising view of the birth of our democracy from the site of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

Award-winning filmmaker and New Mexico native son, Paul Espinosa , will produce and direct Searching for Padre Martínez. For over 40 years, he has produced, directed, and written numerous PBS films, winning eight Emmys and Best of Festival awards around the world. Paul’s films capture the transformative energy of the men and women of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. Paul holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Brown University. He is Professor Emeritus in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University.