Ich bin dann mal weg

Based upon the popular pilgrim's memoir. Hape needs a break from his busy schedule or he risks a total collapse. Kicking his heels at home, his thoughts return to his childhood, his mother's death, the breakdown of his faith in God. He decides that what he needs is not sun sea and surf but instead dust, sweat and tears. He dons a backpack and makes his way to the Pyrenees.

Hape is going to try conclusions with the pilgrimage road to Santiago. Used to being onstage and seeing people smiling up at him, now he finds himself alone, ignored, even shunned, except by autograph hunters. He's a big fella and it's a very long road to Santiago. Has he bitten off more chorizo than he can chew?

Ich bin dann mal weg (2015) or, I'm Off, is a backpacker-themed movie that strikes a good balance between introversion and situational pratfalls. Hape tells a few jokes, and we see him in flashbacks developing his talent as a boy, but much of the comedy comes from trying circumstances. He keeps running into two women who only seem to tolerate him, but as the walk becomes a journey their feelings for each other begin to warm and grow, and as that happens honesty replaces defensiveness.

Whilst not intended to be a cinematic marvel, I'm Off manages to be both purely entertaining and thoughtful. It is character driven, suitable for all except the very young, and I'd say it will repay repeat viewing.

While I haven't read the original source for this (the book that is), you can feel it coming through. Every ooze and (line) drop suggest something bigger behind this. So while again I can't confirm it, it feels like there is much more to this that made it to the screen. Of course that can be argued about any adaptation. But with a self discovery and/or journey the very famous person (played by an actor and not himself, which makes kinda sense considering the title) is making we are expecting quite a bit out of it.

And the actors do not disappoint, there are quite a few funny and hilarious moments. Be it his attempts at connecting or finding or discovering or other sorts of "failures". But only if you fail and never give up, you truly know where you are and where you should go (pun intended). Shortcuts included ...

I saw this movie because I was trapped in a plane for 12 hours, I had heard about the book and I had made a tiny portion of the Jacob's Way myself.

This is a tourist movie: locals and locations are just a nice background and shown stereotypically. Noone is really involved besides the pilgrims, nothing is explained about the places they visit and their culture. Don't expect tips and hints, in case you want to do the Jacob's Way yourself.

It's sold as a comedy, but beyond the typical German jokes (tooth falling, guy falling) there is nothing really laughable about this drama of a mother who lost her daughter and just wanders around in her middle-aged crazyness.

But the worst part is of course the moralistic tale of New Age people rediscovering the catholic faith, through penitence and abstinence. Recommendable if you are trapped in a plane for 12 hours, can't sleep and there is nothing else in the movie catalog.