I thought it would be fun for the month of March to share some of my favorite things. (Are you singing the song from the Sound of Music? It’s ok, I won’t judge!) This week, I wanted to share my (recent) favorite film about God.
The film is The Way, and it is written and directed by Emilio Estevez, who says he is not a practicing person of faith. His father, Martin Sheen, stars in the film as a man who has lost his son on the Camino de Santiago (a pilgrimage path through France, Basque Country, and Spain). He takes his son’s backpack and walks the trail, which is hundreds of miles. He has lost his faith. Along the way he finds other companions, who are also on a faith and life journey. They have (like Dorothy’s companions from The Wizard of Oz) also lost things, and they are hoping to find them on the Way.
I first watched this film with my friend Brian Elliott – the night before we were on our way to Spain. We were on a “pre-mission trip” to Spain, and we actually got to see the Cathedral in Santiago, which is the end of the Camino pilgrimage route. This movie not only set the tone for a great mission trip, it also led Brian and I into a great conversation about the walk with God. So many try to force others to believe. But this film presents a path of faith where people need companions on the journey while they figure out life – which is often broken and painful – with God. One of the things I love about this movie is that it is not preachy, but it is powerful in a poetic way. I think the world needs more poetic preaching, a calling out with beauty, an invitation out of the scarred ugliness of selfishness and pride.
The Way is streaming on Netflix and Amazon Video, and I highly recommend it.
Have you seen The Way? What did you think?
What is your favorite film about God, and why?
