Culture

The Way is a fictional story about the “Way of St James” or “El Camino Santiago”, a pilgrimage from the French Pyrenees to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. The story is about Tom (Martin Sheen), an ophthalmologist who isn’t interested in seeing the world (how ironic) and his son Daniel (Michael J Fox), who cannot see enough of it.

After Daniel is killed in an accident at the outset of his journey, Tom travels to France intending to retrieve a body but instead discovers the life of the son he never really knew. For absolution, and as tribute to Daniel’s feverish love for adventure, Tom embarks on the 800 kilometre journey alone, scattering Daniel’s ashes at significant points along the way.

Contrary to Tom’s intentions he finds support, both literally and thematically, in the shape of companions. The story, which could easily have been over-whelmed by the tear wrenching, syrupy combination of a heartbroken father and beautifully shot landscapes, is saved by three jolly (or not so jolly) fellow travellers: Sarah the angry Canadian, Youst the high-spirited Dutchman, and Jack the word-strapped Irish Poet.

Four damaged strangers/friends on a pilgrimage makes for an overtly inspirational plotline but The Way doesn’t sink into trying to solve life’s mysteries or even the four characters’ problems. It works from Daniel’s sentiments from the beginning of the film: “You don’t choose a life Dad, you live one.” I don’t want to go overboard on praise, but this is a super movie. It is a rare gem in the current film world, a world lacking any original thought (name one blockbuster out right now that isn’t a book or a sequel, I dare you). It is a 123-minute journey in which you worry not once about the destination.

4 / 5 stars

– Lulu Sandston