An earnest, well-meant family project, “The Way” stars Martin Sheen and his filmmaker son Emilio Estevez (seen in flashbacks) in the moving story of a father’s grief for his dead son. Widowed physician Tom Avery (Sheen) and his son Daniel (Estevez) had been estranged when he learns the boy died in a weather related accident while on a religious journey to find himself. He was trekking along El Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James) to the sacred chapel of a saint in Spain. Guilt-ridden, Tom decides to honor his memory and complete the chosen mission Daniel began and scatter his ashes. “The Way” is overly sentimental, yet is a heartfelt narrative of a bereaved parent wanting to make amends with an alienated son.
Writer-director-star Emilio Estevez casts Sheen as lead performer who understandably emotes well feeling the pain of a parent unable to make up with his dead son. Travelers that Tom meets along the way are portrayed by Deborah Kara Unger and James Nesbitt. Well photographed with eye-appealing scenery, “The Way” is inspiring as an ode to life, love, kinship, and togetherness.
Image Source: BP
