Sunday, September 22, 2019

The Movie "The Way"




Joe sent me a note today saying 
2021 is the 10 year anniversary 
of the movie The Way coming out. 

Ten years since Joe and I, 
while waiting one rainy afternoon,
with maybe only 3 other pilgrims
 in the Pilgrim office in Santiago, 
were invited to be extras in the film. 

We had days to spare. 
Nothing else to do.
We looked at each other and said, "Why not?!"

Ten years. 
It has just flown by, 
but my, what changes we have seen!

This movie did so much 
to popularize the Camino.
Before it, 
who had heard of 
the Camino de Santiago,
unless they were Catholic?
Joe knew of it,
but he had a Jesuit education.
He is the one who told me about it,
when my specialist prescribed
long-distance walking
for my MCS.

While on the Camino,
we had seen the crew filming, 
as we walked through Torres del Rio. 
We were so weary from walking,
we didn't ask questions.
And now, here we were...
extras in a movie 
with Martin Sheen and Emelio Estevez!


I remember HOURS in the drizzle 
working on scenes 
of the trio walking up the Cathedral steps.

The crew provided our lunch,
and had us sign releases.
We were promised €2 as pay.
I still have not received my check!

Soon we moved into the Cathedral 
and spent more time 
in the swinging botafumeiro scene. 
There were times the cameras 
were right in our faces.

We had not been told the story 
and so didn't know 
until we SAW the movie 
why Emelio Estevez was dressed as a priest 
swinging the censor! 

When the movie came out,
we watched it excitedly, 
hoping to see ourselves. 
But... where were we? 

We played it again, 
really squinting during the scenes 
we knew we were in. 
Where were we?

Then we finally played it frame by frame 
:::laughing:: 
and there was tall Joe 
in his black beret
with me hidden behind him, 
just a piece of me sticking out! 

Hahaha!
So much for being famous! 

Well, it was fun anyway. 
Martin Sheen 
was a lovely open and friendly man.
He introduced us to his son,
also very gracious
and down to earth. 
Martin spent a LOT of time signing autographs
and talking to people. 
Emelio would have to say, 
"Dad! Time to WORK!" 

There are some days, I admit, 
I wish they'd never made the movie. 

When I see blocks and blocks of people
in line for the Compostela, for instance.
When I run into people who really are not there
 for a spiritual experience, 
but just because it's a fad,
or a friend told them
it was a cheap vacation. 
When I run into people 
who are unkind, un-pilgrim-like, 
un-(fill in the blank) in my judgmental mind. 

I often feel frustrated 
when someone comes out 
with yet ANOTHER book,
or ANOTHER film, 
or ANOTHER You Tube video. 

Some days I feel I'm drowning 
in Camino minutia. 
I want to scream "STOP!!!" 

I think, 
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could return 
to the quiet days of the Camino? 
When you met only 10 pilgrims all day? 
When you cooked together, ate together, 
remembered each other's faces and names? 
When we were all there for the magic? 
For the spiritual experience 
of change or of finding answers?" 

And then I remember, 
the Camino still holds magic,
enough magic for all who walk it.

It changes even those 
who do not go there seeking change. 

You cannot walk it without changing.

It's impossible.

I know I change each time I walk it.
I like to think I get better
at being human.
I see parts of my self I need to correct.
I feel feelings I need to deal with.
I find ways I can improve.
I learn more and more about myself 
and my relationship with others.

For this reason, I continue to take small groups
of people who aren't quite ready
for whatever reason
to walk on their own.
For this reason,
I've devoted much of my time 
to helping people on 
The Way,
on THEIR Way.

So thank you Martin Sheen and Emelio Estevez
for bringing The Way to the people.

What a difference that one movie 
has made 
for all of those 
tiny villages in Spain
and for so many pilgrims,
past, present, and future!

Ten years ago
we were 5 pilgrims
waiting to get our Compostela.
Who could have predicted 
there would be 1450 pilgrims
waiting in blocks-long lines
to get their Compostela
just 10 short years later.

Who  knew!?

Buen Camino!
Annie

Pilgrims waiting for their Compostela, September 2019
Photo by Francesco Cocco
PS:
Here is some background on the movie
from Wiki
that Joe just sent me.



8 comments:

  1. Wonderful!
    Thank you for sharing all of it.

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  2. This is great, thanks for sharing.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks mvanert. Sorry I just saw this comment today. Darned Blogger!

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  3. Thanks Annie! I feel so lucky to have your insight and leadership for our 2021 Camino.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Marcia. You were a delight and I miss you :)

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  4. Good stuff Annie. "Along the Way" is an interesting book co-authored by Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez for anyone interested in more background on this movie experience in addition to their whole life together experiences.

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