Moving

Laakbaar

This movie tells the tale of four pilgrims hiking across northern Spain on The Way of St James. The path takes them from Roncesvaux to Santiago de Compostela.

The story is centered on Tom (played by Martin Sheen). Tom went to Spain to identify and repatriate the body of his son Daniel (played by real-life son Emilio Estevez), who had died on the pilgrimage in an accident.

Stricken by grief, Tom decides to have his son cremated in Spain and -- at the spur of the moment and without training -- to complete the 800 km pilgrimage with his son's remains. Along the way, he deposits the ashes of his son at significant points, thus helping his son to complete this journey in spirit and helping himself to say goodbye to Daniel.

Tom is a ophthalmologist from California with a comfortable life and a limited world view. During his act of paternal devotion he slowly learns from the example of his son that life is a journey and there is a world out there to be explored and new people to meet. As happens on such journeys, he picks up three unlikely companions: Canadian Sarah, Dutchman Joost and Irishman Jack. Each is making the pilgrimage for various personal reasons, but we are left to wonder about their faith. The religious aspect is dealt with in the movie, but in a quiet, understated way.

Along the way Tom and the moviegoer also discover the countryside and people of northern Spain, but particularly what it is like to do this pilgrimage. Interest in this hiking route has increased over the last 25 years. Very few hiked El Camino in 1987, but over 150,000 did it last year. Most of us who crave adventure and travel have thought about doing it.

This fine, intelligent and understated movie spoke to me on several levels. It is a beautiful, important and moving film.

score 9/10

Laakbaar 29 December 2012

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2727897/