Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen on THE WAY
The production received unprecedented cooperation from the Spanish government and local villages, which allowed them to shoot the Camino as it has never been seen before on screen. Estevez was thrilled when he learned that THE WAY would become the first feature film ever granted permission to shoot inside the soaring Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the Romanesque beauty first completed in 1122, and the official end-point of the Camino de Santiago. The Cathedral had been loathe to let anyone shoot anywhere nearby after a disastrous football-themed commercial punctured a hole in a centuries-old, stained-glass window.
Estevez was just about to search for an alternate cathedral or even re-write the climactic final scene in which Tom and his companions arrive, each with their own intense emotions, when 48 hours before the shoot, word came that cast and crew would be allowed inside.
Still, they had just one hour of access to the Portico de Gloria, the 12th Century sculptural masterpiece that adorns the Cathedral’s innards with a recreation of the Last Judgment that traverses arches and columns – and has become part of the ritual of completing the pilgrimage. They were also allowed to shoot one Mass, during which they were warned in advance the famed “botafumeiro” (literally “smoke expeller”), one of the world’s largest swinging incense dispensers, would be released into its stunning 65-meter, pendulum arc just once for the cameras.
“We had to be very coordinated with all our movements prior to shooting but it all came off beautifully,” says Estevez.
Sums up Sheen: “The most gratifying thing when I’ve seen audiences watching the film is to see them really inserting themselves into the journey with Tom and wondering if it would be possible for them. So many people come up afterwards and say, ‘where do I sign up to do something like this?’ It’s a powerful thing to be able to inspire people.”
The Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James is a spiritual journey that pilgrims of all faiths and backgrounds have traversed for over a thousand years. The pilgrimage originally began at one’s doorstep, though modern trekkers today would find that rather difficult, particularly American pilgrims needing to cross the Atlantic. While there are a number of established routes leading to Santiago from all directions, the most popular is the Camino Frances, which crosses the Pyrenees Mountains along the Spanish-French border starting in St. Jean Pied de Port.
This Camino route covers 800 kilometers that traverses an idyllic northern Spanish countryside. By following the yellow painted arrows marking the road, a pilgrim can expect to walk 12-15 miles a day to reach the next town for the night. At this pace, a pilgrim can reach the Cathedral de Santiago in 6 to 8 weeks time to attend the Pilgrim’s Mass held at noon each day. Some take more time, others less. Some choose to travel by bike, and some have done the Camino on horseback. Along the way travelers encounter albergues, refugios and casa rurals that cater specifically to the thousands of pilgrims of all ages that take this journey each year, immersing themselves in the local food, culture and history dedicated to this experience.
