Filmax Entertainment, Icon Entertainment International, Elixir Films,
Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, Deborah Kara Unger, James Nesbitt, Yorick van Wageningen, Spencer Garrett, Antonio Gil-Martinez, Carlos Leal, Simón Andreu, Santi Prego
Tom (Martin Sheen) is an eye doctor, fully involved in his life, when suddenly a call arrives (on the golf course) telling him his only child, a son who is 40 years old was dead. Daniel (Emelio Estevez) was estranged and didn’t agree with his father on very much, and he was in the midst of a pilgrimage along El Camino de Santiago, the Road of St James, across Northern Spain. For centuries, pilgrims have made this 500 mile walk across Spain to stand at the feet of the statue of St. James in the Cathedral at the end of the road. He died on the first day. Tom rushes to Spain to collect Daniel’s body, and decides to finish the walk in Daniel’s name and to find out why his son was doing this thing, and to find himself.
This is a wonderful independant film. You may have seen Martin and Emelio talking about this film during the pre-show at your local theater or on TV. They decided, rather than doing a huge Hollywood film, to make and promote this film independantly. They correctly figured that the public was looking for a really good story that is frewh and new, and not a recycled remake, sequel, or rehash of what we’ve seen before. They pulled this off. The method for making this film is unique too. There was no caravan of equipment, trailers, and busses! They filmed it with portable equipment and, as Emelio loves to point out, with no director’s chair! Emelio has a small part in this film, as he dies in the first couple minutes, but he directed his Dad in the film, and the two did a wonderful job.
Tom meets a bunch of colorful characters along the way, but I’m not going to talk too much about them here as getting to meet them along the way is part of the charm of this film. But I will say that Tom starts out as an angry grouchy old guy who has to learn as much about himself as he does about his son.
This is a wonderful film, very fresh and interesting, and a remarkable story. In addition, the views and stories along the road as fabulous as well. I really enjoyed this film from start to finish, and I’m very glad they took on this project, and completed it with all the love and care they could muster. I highly recommend this movie. It’s truly one of a kind.
EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog
