The Way is one of those beautiful Hallmark movies that used to air on CBS on Sunday nights, but don’t anymore so heartwarming films had to become independent films to survive. The Way is straightforward. A comfortable ophthalmologist’s son dies during the first day of his pilgrimage from France to Spain, and when his father retrieves his body and belongings, he decides to take the pilgrimage himself. During the pilgrimage, he meets locals and fellow pilgrims and basically is completely outside of his comfort zone spiritually, physically and psychologically. His fellow pilgrims have their own reasons for going.
While watching it, I wondered if it was a Christian film that somehow got A list stars to be in it, but it was made by Emilio Esteves and stars Martin Sheen, who are apparently super Catholic. The Way mostly features people who have uneasy or nonexistent relationships with the Church. By the end, they have become the Church, and their fellowship on the pilgrimage does more to heal their individual pain than any sermon can do. As a Protestant, it helped me understand why someone would go on pilgrimage. The Way is still a treat to watch for believers and non-believers since it addressees universal human themes.
The Way is far from perfect. It is kind of long, but since it is about a pilgrimage that can take months, I can’t fault the movie for its length. The Way can be frustratingly predictable in places, and when James Nesbitt from Jekyll appears, he kind of hijacks the film.
Despite its flaws, if Hollywood royalty can put out a simple, understated and sweet film like The Way, then there is still hope in the industry. Not necessarily a must see unless you’ve experienced loss and want a quiet movie to be with