A Tale of Tragedy, Friendship & Camino de Santiago Spirit

I first heard of the Camino de Santiago in the book, The Pilgrimage, by Paulo Coelho. Paulo Coelho walked the legendary French Way (Camino de Santiago Frances) back in the 1980s. He has inspired thousands of people to follow in his footsteps.

The Camino de Santiago Frances is an incredible 700-kilometer trek (pilgrimage) across Northern Spain. Its history is rooted in medieval times, when Pilgrims from all over Europe would walk the Camino de Santiago, ending their pilgrimage at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, as a form of penance for their sins.

These days, the Camino is more of spiritual adventure, although many still walk to Santiago for religious reasons.

The trail begins in France at Saint Jean Pied du Port and crosses the mighty Pyrenees into Spain.

The pilgrimage continues across Northern Spain over mountain ranges and the desert. Through vineyards and lush, green countryside.

People who walk the Camino de Santiago are often referred to as "Pilgrims," and stay in small villages and towns along the way, usually sharing dorm style accommodation with up to as many as a 100 other people.

The final destination is the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, the alleged final resting place of St James.

In 2010, the eagerly anticipated Camino film, The Way, was released. Based on the book by Jack Hitt, the screenplay was written and directed by Emilio Estevez who also stars in the film, along with his father, Martin Sheen.

What a tale of tragedy, of friendship, and of Camino spirit!

I laughed and I cried as I vicariously walked the Road to Santiago with the main characters led by Martin Sheen.

Emilio Estevez plays Daniel who, against his father's wishes, quits his job to take off to explore the world. His adventures lead him to Saint Jean Pied du Port on the Camino de Santiago from where he begins his journey.

On his first day of walking, he detours from the route and loses his way. He is eventually found dead by fellow walkers.

His grieving father, Tom, played by Martin Sheen, travels to Spain to collect his cremated ashes. Devastated by the loss, he decides to walk the Camino de Santiago to honour his son's memory and scatter his ashes along the way.

Partially due to his grief, and partially down to his close-mindedness, he rebuffs the friendship of his fellow Pilgrims. Enter Joost (played by Yorick van Wageningen) a pot-smoking Dutch guy who won't take no for an answer, Sarah, (played by Deborah Kara Unger), a bitter chain-smoking Canadian woman and Jack (played by James Nesbitt), a Irish writer suffering from extreme writer's block.

Tom's Camino family was born, even if he initially rejects them.

A "Camino family” is a big deal on the Camino de Santiago. Pilgrims walking along the way band and walk together in little groups, forming a Camino family for the duration of the trip.

Indeed, a Camino family is often for life due to the strength of the connections that are made.

The film follows their journey along the way, through stunning Spanish countryside that showcases the Spanish landscape, culture, and cuisine.

Tom eventually opens up to his Camino family, sharing his grief over the death of his son. Finally, they arrive at the Cathedral de Santiago, having forged a life-connection and bond, their pilgrimage completed.

Tom decides that he wants to scatter his son's remaining ashes from the clifftops at Finisterre into the Atlantic Ocean below. They leave behind Santiago de Compostela together to walk onto Finisterre.

Finisterre is located on the most western type of Northern Spain, around 90 kilometres from Santiago. In ancient times, Finisterre was once believed to be the end of the world, where medieval Pilgrims burned their clothes as a sign of purification.

In emotional scenes, the film comes to an end as Tom says goodbye to his son, while scattering his ashes into the ocean below.

Do I recommend The Way? Definitely. The Way inspired me to walk not one but two Caminos de Santiago solo. It is still the best film to watch to help you decide if you want to walk the Camino de Santiago.

The Way is a wonderful film to learn more about the Camino, to see the spectacular countryside of Northern Spain, and to understand why the Camino is such an amazing experience.