<p>I saw a beautiful film yesterday written, produced and directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his father, Martin Sheen. It’s called “The Way” and is the story of an American doctor who travels to France to retrieve the body of his estranged son who died while on a pilgrimage walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James). He decides to complete the pilgrimage in his son’s place, scattering the son’s cremated ashes along the way while he comes to terms with his own life through his interactions with the others he meets along the way.</p>
<p>I was originally interested in this film because I’m very familiar with Santiago de Compostela, the city in Spain where the pilgrims’ journey ends. My husband is from this part of Galicia and we’ve been to the cathedral there several times. I dragged my husband along because I knew he would enjoy the familiar scenery and places he knows so well. I didn’t expect to be so moved by the movie but it was so beautifully acted and directed. I’ve loved Martin Sheen since before he was Jed Bartlet on West Wing. He does a spectacular job in this movie -I highly recommend it!</p>
<p>We saw this last weekend. I dragged my husband & two sons to see it. (S2 was home on Fall break). To my surprise, everyone liked it. Even S2, who is usually quite cynical, agreed that it was a very touching movie.</p>
<p>I agree - it was beautifully acted & directed. I laughed & sobbed through the entire movie. It was so refreshing to see a movie that was plot-driven, and not one that relied on high tech gimmicks to make its point.</p>
<p>My oldest D and I hiked on the Camino in May 2007. It was an amazing journey and I am really looking forward to the movie.</p>
<p>[The</a> Way](<a href=“http://theway-themovie.com/]The”>http://theway-themovie.com/)</p>
<p>Check out the movie’s website. There are some trailers and behind-the-scenes videos that you might enjoy while you wait for it to come to your area.</p>
<p>Bromfield - did you hike the entire Camino or a section? I am really intrigued - the movie fueled my interest.</p>
<p>Thank you for posting this. I watched the trailer and the movie looks wonderful. It is showing at all the multiplexes in our area. I love Martin Sheen. Strangely, he always seems Irish to me, although I know he is Hispanic. Must be the name.</p>
<p>^^His mother is Irish; his father is Spanish. I read an interview with Sheen about “The Way.”</p>
<p>Thanks, 12rmh18! Now I know it’s not my imagination that he looks Irish and not Hispanic to me.</p>
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<p>Didn’t have time to do it all; just did one section, about 100 miles total. Took us a week to finish. The majority of pilgrims, in my experience, weren’t there for religious
reasons–mostly they are there for sport/hiking in a foreign country. During the entire week we only met two Americans. Most of the walkers are European, Australian, or Canadian. We didn’t stay in the hostels (refugios) that are free (or very low cost) along the way. They fill up quickly and we wanted to do our own thing, e.g., if we wanted to stay in places longer, we would. We planned it so we’d end our day in one of the many towns along the way and always managed to find a room at a local hotel or in someone’s house. My D did a semester abroad in Madrid, so that made it easy for us since she spoke Spanish. I would be happy to tell you more about it, if you’d like. Send me a PM. The website below has lots of practical information. I’d love to go back and do another section.</p>
<p>[Camino</a> de Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage - St James Way](<a href=“http://www.caminodesantiago.me/]Camino”>http://www.caminodesantiago.me/)</p>
<p>Went to this this film tonight and absolutely loved it! I might go so far as to say it’s one of the best I’ve seen this year. And now I want to walk the Camino. My friend asked as we came out of the theater…“so, are you already making your plans?” I wrote my D and told her to see it and let me know if she’d ever want to do something like that. I’m intrigued.</p>