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.