Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago

Loved this film before my Camino, but seeing it afterwards is even better. The many philosophical comments are now more meaningful and spot on. It captures the essence of the experience.

This is a very pleasant viewing experience! I bought the DVD and there are some excellent extras to go with the film, including an interview with the film's creator Lydia Smith. On watching this you realize the long journey and great effort in bringing this film into existence. Inspired by a Camino undertaken by the director in April and May 2008, it was filmed the following April and May 2009, but took until 2013 before it was released. I have the Camino on my 'to do' list but you don't have to be a walker to enjoy it, it contains much human interest. As a potential Camino walker I must admit there are some good tips here, travel light (dump the sleeping bag, and perhaps take a bivvi bag for emergencies), and take care of your feet! Highly recommended viewing.

Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago is not a travelogue of the most famous of the various Camino routes that conclude in Santiago de Compostela, where tradition holds that the bones of the apostle St. James are said to be buried. It is a multi-faceted examination of 6 different journeys undertaken by individuals or pairings of pilgrims, undertaking the 800 km trek between St. Jean Pied de Port in Southern France and Santiago. Many of the everyday details and aspects of the expedition, as well as some (not all) of the more famous landmarks are bypassed, in favour of the conveyance of various broad perspectives and feelings of the epic trip, which is generally filmed in chronological order.

For the most part director Lydia B Smith and her camera crew succeed in creating an interesting accompanying journey for the audience through their subject selection. I admit to being staggered by the sight of the French single mother who chose to do the trek with her 3 year-old son (in and out of his stroller), occasionally accompanied by her brother (when they weren't arguing, which appeared more often than not, to be brought on by the rather prescriptively prim behaviour she expected of him along the journey). On the other hand, whilst I'm glad she completed her Camino, I probably could have done without the middle-aged American lady, who cried a lot complaining about her aches and pains for 90% of her screen time. Some of the bit travellers popping up just for a single interview cameo, such as the Korean lady, and the German guy who turned up with the featured Anglo-Brazilian lady just the one time, were quite interesting and left me wanting to know more about them.

Some thought-provoking, though (it must be said) frequently repetitive asides and commentary is provided by various locals along the way. These include clergy, business owners, volunteers assisting Camino travellers and village and town residents. There is no director narration, though certain information is provided by scroll and various towns and days covered are identified by screen label.

Director Smith clearly has a passion for her subject, having completed the Camino years before beginning this film. This is a professionally compiled, well photographed and edited documentary which features a pleasant soundtrack mainly featuring quite appropriately, some well played Spanish guitars. I think anyone considering undertaking the walk, or looking back at the experience of completing it, will find plenty to savour. Me; I was dying to ask all the walkers why so many were carrying such large packs with items such as sleeping bags and cooking utensils, when all appeared to be staying in hostels and getting cooked meals every night. The question was at least partially answered by the hooked up pair of the Danish lady and her ten years younger Canadian toy boy. She admitted half way through, she had brought too much unnecessary gear and stored it away to be picked up later, continuing with just a light pack. I was also curious as to why it took Lydia Smith some 4 years to assemble the finished product, after shooting it. Seems a hell of a long time for what obviously was a labour of love.

This was very well done! The photography, the six main people followed, the music, the mood -- all were well-edited, directed, and produced. It shows the full range of the Camino experience: the internal thoughts, the spiritual insights, the physical strains, the solace of nature, the weather, the new friends made, and the sharing with others of all ages and from all countries. In many aspects, I enjoyed this documentary a little bit more than the commendable Camino film "The Way." (I did the last 200 mile portion to Santiago with my two best friends in 2005, and heartily encourage everyone to give it a try...) This film will truly inspire you. Buen Camino!

Sioux Holy Man, Black Elk said, "The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes from within the souls of men when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe…and that its center is within each of us." Lydia Smith's documentary Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago follows six pilgrims from different parts of the world in their attempt to discover that center. The 500-mile trek to Santiago de Compostela Camino in Spain has been undertaken in the past by St. Francis of Assisi, Charlemagne, Ferdinand and Isabella, Dante, and Chaucer (and Shirley MacLaine), and has become a big part of Europe's tourist industry with thousands of travelers from every religion and walk of life completing the walk each year.

Beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port, France, the path, beautifully photographed by cinematographer Pedro Valenzuela, crosses cities, small villages where cows meander in the center of the road, highways, mountains, and fields en route to Santiago. Wayne is an Episcopal priest from Canada who is undertaking the journey with his friend Jack to pay tribute to his wife who died four years ago. Sam has battled with clinical depression and looks to the trek to discover a renewed sense of self. Annie is an American who develops tendinitis and is forced to slow down, a welcome opportunity for reflection. Tatiana from France has brought along her three year old son Cyrian "to learn many things that he couldn't at home."

The boy's presence strains an existing family relationship with her brother Alexis, however. During the walk, a tentative friendship blossoms into a relationship between Misa and William. "I'm just trying not to figure out why. I'm just supposed to enjoy it," she says. Tomás, from Portugal, like many others, has to deal with foot blisters, a painful knee injury, and changes in the weather that slow the trek. With everything stripped away, they rediscover their ability to transform their life. "The mask disappears, and you transform into yourself," one man says. All struggle to some degree with physical and emotional difficulties along the way but discover that the profound connection which exists in community becomes stronger when you are hungry or hurt and tired but are determined to keep going together.