Life has been hectic; camping, visiting friends and family and preparing for a wedding have all set to keep me busy and away from a creative opportunity. Going at 100 mph is certainly enjoyable but the quiet moments set in tiredness and seem to leave little room for productivity. That doesn't bode well for how this pet project will work once I settle into working life.
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| Not what I am aiming for in life... |
However, here I am, endeavouring to keep it going after a 3 week hiatus. Yesterday afternoon I sat down to watch 'The Way', a movie by Emilio Estevez (the son of Michael Sheen, who takes the lead role). At its essence it is a film about the 'Camino de Santiago de Compostela' or The Way of Saint James, a popular and ancient pilgrimage undertaken by people from around the world for a multitude of different reasons.
The film, released in 2010, has plagued me ever since as one recommended by friends and family as one to watch. Yet I never got around to it. Finally I succumbed after spending time with friends recently returned from The Camino. They talked so well of it that I felt a hunger to know more of what they had experienced. A quiet afternoon lent itself to settling down.
A tragic start to the movie sets an introspective tone as you follow Michael Sheen's character. The additional characters to fill the troupe seemed a little cliche, but perhaps only as a result of my short personal exposure to travelling. The relationship between the four builds and develops along The Way, the pilgrims journey seemingly more important than the destination.
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| The Way can start anywhere; walk more than 100km and you receive a certificate at the end! |
The movie is definitely worth watching; all but the main characters are actors accompanied by real pilgrims and locals of The Way. This adds a touch of 'forced dialogue' but lends to its authenticity also. I feel a certain inspiration to walk the pilgrims way as a result. Before taking my gap year I considered the idea of doing a long trek along the silk road or similar route - the Camino de Santiago offers much to be savoured in the Spanish Basque region.
