The Cinema and the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago and Cinema
Although the Camino de Santiago and cinema are not closely linked in terms of awards, in fact, the few films and documentaries made about the Camino de Santiago are of an average quality, considering the reviews from both professionals and the general public, they have attracted a lot of viewers highly interested in their content.
Nevertheless, and keeping the above in mind, there are some films and documentaries we can watch and enjoy, have a good time, and experience from home a little bit of the magic of the Camino de Santiago.
This list of films can serve as a prelude to a real experience, full of emotions and unforgettable moments.
Let's begin:
1st. O Apostolo (The Apostle), 2012
Spanish animated film directed by Fernando Cortizo, lasting 72 minutes. Nominated for the Goya Awards for Best Animated Film.
Plot: A recently escaped prisoner tries to recover the loot he hid years earlier in a remote and solitary village; but what he finds there turns out to be a fate worse than prison. Sinister old people, strange disappearances, spirits, a peculiar priest, and even the archpriest of Santiago himself feature in this story of horror, humor, and fantasy.
2nd. The Way (El Camino), 2010
American film shot in Spain in English in 2009, directed by Emilio Estevez, with a runtime of 120 minutes. A collaboration between Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez, in honour of the Camino de Santiago. It had a significant impact in the US, where most viewers were unfamiliar with the route. Many of them felt drawn to undertake the pilgrimage.
Plot: One day, Tom Avery (Martin Sheen), a well-known widowed ophthalmologist, is told that his son Daniel, with whom he has never had a good relationship, has died in the Pyrenees during a storm. Devastated, Tom travels to France and, upon learning that his son was walking the Camino de Santiago, decides to finish the route in his honour.
3rd. Saint-Jacques… La Mecque (Pilgrims), 2005
French film titled "Pilgrims" in Spain, directed by Colline Serreau, lasting 110 minutes.
Plot: After the death of their mother, three siblings learn they will only receive the inheritance if they walk together from Le Puy-en-Velay, France, to Santiago de Compostela. The problem is, they hate each other and despise walking. But their greed for money prevails, and they finally set off. They meet their guide in Le Puy-en-Velay, where they discover they will join a group of six others. The journey is long to Santiago de Compostela, and as we travel with them through beautiful landscapes, we witness the mishaps, arguments, love affairs, fantasies, and experiences of these nine characters.
4th. Footprints: The Way of Your Life, 2016
A documentary film about the Camino de Santiago directed by Juan Manuel Cotelo, released in 2016 by the production company Infinito+1. Interestingly, the film was purchased by the giant streaming platform Netflix, making it available to 83 million subscribers worldwide, after already being released in 7 countries and shown in many cinemas.
Plot: Eleven young people from the Arizona desert travel to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago. Over 40 days and 1000 km, the documentary follows them on the greatest adventure of their lives: a physical and spiritual journey capable of changing their lives forever.
5th. Three on the Camino, 2004
Three on the Camino is a film/documentary lasting 148 minutes, of Spanish/English nationality, where the true essence of the Camino de Santiago is shown without embellishment. Exceptional.
Plot: At the dawn of the new millennium, a Dutch social worker, a famous Japanese poetess, and a Brazilian girl have walked the Camino de Santiago, and back in their countries, they reflect on the memories of their journey. The trip is also an inner journey, sharing both a physical and spiritual space with millions of pilgrims who have undertaken the Camino since the Middle Ages.
Other films worth mentioning:
- At the End of the Camino (2009)
- Americano (2005)
- Flower of Holiness (1972)
- The Milky Way (1969)
- Cotolay (The Wolf Boy) (1965)
- The Portico of Glory (1953)
Lights, camera, action!!!!!!
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