Tom Avery (Martin Sheen) is an American ophthalmologist. While playing golf with friends, he is phoned and informed about his son Daniel’s death. Daniel was caught by storm in the Pyrenees while walking the El Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. It is believed that Apostle Saint James was buried in there. The other name of this route is the Way of St. James.
Tom travels to France to retrieve Daniel’s body. After the cremation, he takes his son’s ashes and as homage to Daniel decides to walk the same route together with him. On his way he meets Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), Irish writer Jack (James Nesbitt) and Dutch Joost (Yorick van Wageningen). Each of them has their own reason for taking the route. They travel together, and become friends. During this time, Tom contemplates over his life and relationship with Daniel. He releases Daniel’s ashes in different parts of the route.
Most of the spots and scenes chosen for filming were beautiful. Unfortunately, I cannot be positive about the actors’ performances as well. Martin Sheen showed very little emotion and grief. On the route (thus, throughout the film), his face’s expression was quite stiff and unreadable. Deborah Unger was somehow annoying with her constant smoking and I did not believe in anything she said. James Nesbitt overacted when he just arrived in the scene. I was not annoyed only by Yorick van Wageningen.
Still, this film is a good family and evening watch. Its simplicity is relaxing. Who knows, maybe after watching the film you will decide to take the same route. Enjoy!
Reviewer’s rating: 6.5 out of 10
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