More questions than answers
THE WAY
Director: Emilio Estevez
Certificate: 15
Running time: 140 minutes
A withdrawn American eye doctor (Martin Sheen) travels to France to recover the body of his estranged son who died on a pilgrimage along ‘El camino de Santiago’, and then sets out to complete his son’s journey to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Along the way, he meets several colourful characters, from jovial to snarky to effusive, who join him on his walk. Each has their own reasons for going on the pilgrimage, not all immediately apparent. One thing that unites them, though, is the fact that they’re all seeking to find their way on the walk that is life. They then gradually form a quirky, heart-warming sort of found family.
Common grace
The film illustrates God’s common grace, celebrating such blessings as the beauty of nature, human creativity, connecting with others, and emotional catharsis.
One character states: ‘Religion has absolutely nothing to do with it’. According to the film, life is seemingly about experience. However, in actual fact, it’s about grace, which this character doesn’t seem to understand, given his harsh treatment of his thieving son. He understands justice and the need for restitution and punishment for sin, but not grace and forgiveness.
The story unfolds at a gentle, relaxed, even languid pace, but this makes it feel unhurried and effortless rather than sluggish. Moreover, the film’s quiet simplicity is tempered by a warm sense of humour, poking gentle fun at human foibles.
For a film ostensibly about walking, it’s surprisingly skilfully made, unobtrusively compelling and inspiring. It’s wonderfully directed, with quietly stunning location photography and beautiful music.
Subjective solutions
However, ultimately the film misses the point. It asks big, important, meaningful questions, and shows us characters in need of redemption and meaning, but, despite the presence of some Christian elements, settles for intermediate, subjective solutions rather than Christ.
Nevertheless, it’s a thought provoking, quietly moving, cinematically beautiful experience.
Content-wise, the film contains characters taking the Lord’s name in vain, drug use, and existentialism.
