Coming to theatres today, Friday, June 6: WALKING THE CAMINO: SIX WAYS TO SANTIAGO
Lydia Smith’s portrait of pilgrims walking across Spain debuted at Ashland last year. Its fest run has included Newport Beach, Galway, American Doc, Heartland, and Hollywood, among others.
Spain’s Camino de Santiago is a 500 mile path that culminates in the city of Santiago de Compostela, a popular pilgrimage destination as the site of St James’ remains, annually drawing more than 270,000 pilgrims. Smith, a former pilgrim herself, follows nearly a dozen international individuals who make the journey for a variety of reasons, walking during the day and stopping at hostels along the way to rest and socialize. These include two Canadian retirees, one of whom is still dealing with his wife’s passing; an American woman who learns how to let go of some of her anxiety around competition after the trek takes a physical and emotional toll; a recently unemployed Brazilian woman who needs a fresh start; an adventurous Portuguese man who experiences a lot of physical trouble en route; an uptight, religious young French mother who travels with her inquisitive young son and her non-religious, free-spirited younger brother; and a sporty Danish loner who unexpectedly finds herself starting a relationship with a younger fellow pilgrim. As they reflect on the issues in their lives over the course of the pilgrimage, they learn to appreciate a slower pace and absorb the beauty of the Spanish countryside in this handsomely lensed if (appropriately) meandering production. Smith does an admirable job in balancing multiple subjects – though I’m left unconvinced that all needed to be included, with more than one indulging in navel-gazing and First World Problems – but it’s easy to see the film resonating with viewers with particular interest in spirituality and self-development.
what (not) to doc 