Tots els camins de Déu

If you are an art-house aficionado then you may revel in this – so I am writing two reviews. The first is for the art-house lovers – here goes. This cinematic work opens with a landscape of washed out colours and the shot of a tormented soul who has lost all for a mere pocket full of silver. Pensive shots and a narrow aspect screen lending itself to the confines of a man whose existence has started to close in on him.

The thirty pieces of silver that are constantly clinking in the pocket of the traitor; playing like a metronome for the death of his very soul. Coupled with minimal dialogue with his unwanted companion as if words are never going to be enough to describe the chasm that is the place where his heart once freely beat. Leading us, as if in a waking dream, to an inexorable dénouement that is already writ large.... And now for the viewer who just wants a good film... Two blokes ponce about in the woods – one with some Euros in his pocket and the other with a need to climb trees all the ruddy time. They say virtually nothing – which is good as they are both about as interesting as a hole in your underpants. Then they have a bit of a camp fire – go for a bit of skinny dipping and then sort of do nothing while the camera man leaves the film rolling and goes off to find something better to do – like clean his toe nails or something.

This fails on every level, to be art house you need some 'art' or surely even a 'house' – this has neither and the plot is harder to find than a guilty investment banker. If you like good films then just pretend this was never made; it fails worse than a one armed chain saw juggler – with Alzheimer's – in a wind tunnel – on a uni cycle – with a puncture and a coughing fit – I think you get it

And, dear reader, the truth is somewhere in the middle, that said I would still give it a swerve.

... Using Christian allegory to portray redemption of an older man through a younger man in a totally male way. The original title in Catalan, All the Ways of God, and the English title, The Ways of Man, are equality apt for different purposes, for the actions of the two men are exclusively male (with no hint of femininity) to come to terms with deep philosophical-moral quandary, i.e., think Nietzsche (male) versus Kant (female). All the Ways of God refers to a set of improbable coincidences to put the men together, to put them at odds with each by Hobbesian Man in a State of Nature, to bring them together by Lockean Social Contract, which cannot be explained satisfactorily by deterministic-physical laws.

One of the best films ever made that will scarcely be seen, for not that movie goers do not like plots with all action and little dialogue but prefer banality over substance.

The title is the guide to understand this film , offering a new, modern at first sight, of the drama of Judas after the crucifixion of his Master. His walk in forest, a young man following him, a sort of comradery , beautiful photography and seductive underwater scenes and the end reminding Pieta.

At the first sight- eulogy of nature, manhood or only sketch about an NT episode.

In fact, a poem about reconciliation with yourself and the pressure of sin , answer to gulty feelings and acceptance of unacceptance of yourself, isolated in your only answer.

A beautiful, not only for image virtues , film, good support for reflection and fair poem about sources of freedom.

This is an intriguing movie. It's not big on dialogue that needs to be followed and all the plots are more subtle than expressed.

It's intended to be thought-provoking and in this respect it succeeds.

I think it is desperately unfortunate that someone gave it the title in English "The Ways of Man. It was a massive disservice to the movie and its content.

If I might explain why I think this...

"Tots els camins de Déu" is the original title.

"All The Ways of GOD".

The sort of people who would choose to watch an arty Catalan movie that's almost silent, called The Ways Of Man are very different to the sort of people who would select to watch one called All The Ways Of God.

You could say that God is the unseen main actor, and this movie is all about God's mysterious ways. That would be closer to understanding the point of this movie.

The "ways of man", on the other hand, is something already known, and we are reminded of it in the biblical quote in the first few seconds of the movie... It was the ways of man, i.e. Judas' betrayal of Jesus, for 30 pieces of silver that led to the point of the movie. This is not, however, an overtly religious movie.

This movie is a reflection on guilt and how it can make us behave, and on any possibility we might long for, of forgiveness.

In theatrical terminology, you need to expect that this is a going to be a tragedy - depending on how you view tragedy.

If you like to watch artistic, thought-provoking movies where the meaning is subtle, the action is dead slow and mostly non-existent, with negligible dialogue, and with religious undertones (not overtones) then you may benefit from watching this movie.

I enjoyed the experience of allowing these concepts to be portrayed before me to provoke within me ideas and curiosity, but this is not a movie for mainstream viewers imo.

It is more of interest to those whose minds tend towards philosophy and who have at least some appreciation of Christian doctrine.

FWIW, given the 2 milliseconds or so of male nudity during a couple of seconds of underwater swimming, the warnings about nudity are ridiculously overblown.

Also the suggestion on IMDB and streaming services that this movie may be of interest to LGBTQ viewers is largely unwarranted and if there is a hint, it is not explored.

This movie is more a reflection; ideas, sadness, hope, guilt, loss than a traditional movie, and as such you should determine whether it sounds like something you wish to watch, or would prefer to steer a wide berth.

Basically, if you like, very slow, thought-provoking, art films then this might intrigue you, but if your taste runs only to mainstream cinema then walk away; avoid.

FWIW, I encourage you to seek out on the www, better English subtitles that the default ones. There aren't many lines of dialogue but even so, the supplied subtitles are dreadful.