Buen Camino

The Way opens in select theaters today (October 7) and more widely next weekend.

Written and directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his father Ramón Estévez – or, as you know him, Martin Sheen – the film is centered on a man who picks up his son’s journey on the Camino de Santiago.

I saw the movie last week in Atlanta, and I recommend it without reservation.  It doesn’t have the spiritual depth and specificity  of Of Gods and Men, true, but it’s a different sort of film.  I agree with Steven Greydanus’ take.  There are missing layers and unconnected dots – but what’s onscreen is enticing enough to undoubtedly encourage many to search out those layers and connect some of the dots. 

It’s also a different sort of film than almost anything else being made today.  It’s trying for something intensely human, the filmmakers respect the audience’s intelligence,  and it’s a serious film about broken people that doesn’t need to sink low in the quest for authenticity.  Think On the Waterfront.  A throwback – but in a good way. And perhaps a step forward,  if enough of us go see it.

The scenery, of course, is gorgeous and will make you want to book your tickets to Spain, pronto, and perhaps even toy with the idea of making the camino yourself.

Or simply remembering that your life, as you’re living it right now,  is indeed a camino.  You’re not sitting still.  You’re not running in circles.  You’re on the way,  as well.

The film is true to the reality of this pilgrimage, in that it is one that is undertaken by all types of people for all types of reasons.  It is also subtly true to the reality – even if we pilgrims are often unaware of it – that no matter what we think our reasons are, there is really only one.

Matt Archbold has a great interview with Estevez, Sheen, and producer David Alexanian in NCRegister.  (Warning: there is a spoiler in that interview..not sure if I would have chosen to include it. So read at your peril.)

At the reception before the Atlanta screening,  I missed Estevez,  but I had the opportunity to speak briefly with Alexanian (who produces The Long Way Round series with Ewan McGregor racing about the world on a motorcycle) and at more length with Martin Sheen – didn’t take any photos,  didn’t write anything down,  because this time,  at least,  I hadn’t gone to work.  Much to my surprise,  he and I ended up talking about many things –  about  faith and loss, travel and books –  for half an hour,  sitting there in the Red-Eyed Mule in Marietta,  Georgia. A lovely,  surprising moment.

(There have been countless books written about the Camino – one of my favorites is On Pilgrimage by Jennifer Lash,  who – speaking of movies – was the mother of Ralph and Joseph Fiennes.)