Film No. 35 (2015) May 30th. 10.45 AM LUNA Leederville.
"You just follow the path and whatever comes up is there" (Widower Wayne reflects on his journey along the trail).
"Because I don't have a choice" (3 year old Cyrian on being asked why he is on the path with his mother, Tatiana).
Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago.
I feel bad criticizing a film like Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. It is a feel good, big hearted documentary which gave myself, my wife and two good friends the opportunity to walk, without any chance of gaining a blister, the ancient Christian pilgrimage path with people trying get a better insight into their varying lives. It's just that it had the potential to be far more riveting than it was.
Six Ways, represented 6 different personalities attempting to service their spiritual health. There was Wayne (Canadian) who had recently lost his wife and needed to relieve his soul of the sadness he felt. His mate Jack, the episcopal priest, walked every step by his side. Tatiana (French) pushed a stroller with 3 her year old son Cyrian on board, her rudderless brother accompanied them for sections depending on whether he was on speaking terms with her. Sam, of U.K./Brazil (perhaps a duel passport holder) had low self esteem and clinical depression and just needed to achieve something personal, something unique.
Next was Tomas, a German with movie star good looks, who decided to walk the Camino on a whim even though he had blisters to begin with. Then there was Annie who moved at a snail's pace with sore knees and ankles and reflected on the wonderful people who would lend her a hand along the way. Finally Misa (Danish) and William (Canadian) who met each other early on the trail then came to terms with their very independent ways to form a loving bond. Perhaps part of my criticism revolves around these two easy going souls; it was their developing reliance on one another that I was dying to know more about.
In the last few years I have enjoyed a couple of feature films depicting characters finding new meaning by trekking extraordinary distances. Martin Sheen in The Way and Reece Witherspoon's academy nominated performance in Wild gave heartfelt insights into personal endeavour. I wonder if film-maker Lydia Smith had so much footage from her months of field work that when it came to the final edit, depicting 6 subjects in 95 minutes with any depth was always going to be a challenge. For those who have walked the Camino or are thinking about such an adventure,don't miss this easy to watch adventure documentary. 7GUMS.
Six Ways, represented 6 different personalities attempting to service their spiritual health. There was Wayne (Canadian) who had recently lost his wife and needed to relieve his soul of the sadness he felt. His mate Jack, the episcopal priest, walked every step by his side. Tatiana (French) pushed a stroller with 3 her year old son Cyrian on board, her rudderless brother accompanied them for sections depending on whether he was on speaking terms with her. Sam, of U.K./Brazil (perhaps a duel passport holder) had low self esteem and clinical depression and just needed to achieve something personal, something unique.
Next was Tomas, a German with movie star good looks, who decided to walk the Camino on a whim even though he had blisters to begin with. Then there was Annie who moved at a snail's pace with sore knees and ankles and reflected on the wonderful people who would lend her a hand along the way. Finally Misa (Danish) and William (Canadian) who met each other early on the trail then came to terms with their very independent ways to form a loving bond. Perhaps part of my criticism revolves around these two easy going souls; it was their developing reliance on one another that I was dying to know more about.
In the last few years I have enjoyed a couple of feature films depicting characters finding new meaning by trekking extraordinary distances. Martin Sheen in The Way and Reece Witherspoon's academy nominated performance in Wild gave heartfelt insights into personal endeavour. I wonder if film-maker Lydia Smith had so much footage from her months of field work that when it came to the final edit, depicting 6 subjects in 95 minutes with any depth was always going to be a challenge. For those who have walked the Camino or are thinking about such an adventure,don't miss this easy to watch adventure documentary. 7GUMS.
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