By Toni Jane Pallatto - St. Theresa School (Little Flower)
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Actors Martin Sheen and Yorick van Wageningen talk about an upcoming scene of the movie "The Way" with director Emilio Estevez, Sheen's son.
An interview with Emilio Estevez, writer and director, Martin Sheen, lead actor, and David Alexanian, producer of the soon-to-open film, "The Way."
MIAMI - "The Way" is a magnificent father-son film filmed on the Camino de Santiago, or The Way of St. James. This 497-mile pilgrimage, which has been walked for over 1,000 years, from St. Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, not only is physically challenging, but life-changing for many who take this demanding quest.
Martin Sheen plays Tom, the central character of the film, a self-reliant, widowed California ophthalmologist who is stuck in his comfortable routine. His world is upset when he receives a call from France that his son has had a terrible accident and died. Tom's journey begins as he travels to St. Jean Pied de Port to collect the remains of his adult son, played by his real-life son Emilio Estevez, who was killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino. Tom makes the decision to walk the way in honor of his son Daniel, taking his son's cremated remains with him. What this curmudgeon doesn't realize is that his life will become entwined in the lives of others along the way, making this journey one with profound impact.
On "The Way," Tom meets other pilgrims, each with their own issues. Tom soon discovers that as the trek unfolds, his physical load is lightened by necessity, along with his spiritual load. From the unexpected and amusing experiences along "The Way," and his unresolved relationship with his son, Tom discovers the difference between "the life we live and the life we choose."
Florida Catholic reporter Toni Pallatto recently sat down with Emilio Estevez, writer, producer and director of the film, his father, actor Martin Sheen, and actor and producer David Alexanian to discuss the movie.
Martin, tell me how it was to make a movie that not only portrayed Christianity in a positive light but as well, put the focus on God, particularly in today's secular world.
Sheen: The movie does not hit the audience over the head with religion. It is for a wide range of viewers, and not confined to one particular religion. It is, however, the walk of St. James, and there are numerous signs and symbols of Catholicism. Emilio, in writing this script, was opening our eyes to explore our own humanity, and the commonality of human beings. He wanted us to see that God dwells where we would least likely look. And, when we empty the dungeons of our hearts, as St. Teresa of Avila said, we see that we do not discover God, rather, God chooses us.
Martin, Tom goes on a journey for his deceased son, Daniel, and he meets Yost (Yorick van Wageningen), Sara (Deborah Kara Unger) and Jack (James Nesbitt) along the way. Describe their collective journey.
Sheen: The movie does not hit the audience over the head with religion. It is for a wide range of viewers, and not confined to one particular religion. It is, however, the walk of St. James, and there are numerous signs and symbols of Catholicism. Emilio, in writing this script, was opening our eyes to explore our own humanity, and the commonality of human beings. He wanted us to see that God dwells where we would least likely look. And, when we empty the dungeons of our hearts, as St. Teresa of Avila said, we see that we do not discover God, rather, God chooses us.
Martin, Tom goes on a journey for his deceased son, Daniel, and he meets Yost (Yorick van Wageningen), Sara (Deborah Kara Unger) and Jack (James Nesbitt) along the way. Describe their collective journey.
Sheen: The journey costs you something because it is very physical. You have to have an act of faith if you are going to survive. It is an inner journey, as well, because you are in an unfamiliar place, and you get to know yourself in an honest way. It is a journey of honesty and the Camino connects you with those you find on the way. Tom tries to shake each one of the characters because in each of them he sees a reflection of himself and his own shortcomings and frailties. When he realizes they are him, and, in essence, his de facto family, he begins to accept himself and them, just as God accepts us exactly as we are. That is when transcendence begins.
Emilio, how did the fascination with the Camino begin and how did you cast Martin in the film?
Estevez: Well, it actually began with my grandfather's birthplace in Galicia, at the end of El Camino. Then, Martin was on hiatus from "The West Wing" and he had about two weeks in Europe. He decided to check out the Camino by car. He went with my son, Taylor, and a friend, Matt Clark, who plays one of the priests in the movie. They stopped in Burgos, where they had dinner at a local inn. The innkeeper's daughter walked into the room and looked at Taylor. It was love at first sight. They ended up getting married, which was the first miracle of the Camino. After that, Martin kept telling me that if I wanted to see more of Taylor, who now lives in Spain, I needed to produce a movie about the Camino. So I started researching and writing about what I know. It helped that my father lives about 200 yards down the road from me, so he kept nudging me. The role of Tom was written for him, because if I were going to shoot this movie on the Camino, I couldn't imagine doing it without Martin. And what kid doesn't want to tell his parents what to do?
Emilio and Martin, how did Hollywood respond to the film, and how are audiences responding as you make your cross-country bus tour?
Sheen: This is not a movie that Hollywood would make. There is no sex, violence, vulgarity or special effects. That is not where my heart is. We have a responsibility to lift up ourselves and our audience, and raise the bar. The reception to the film has been outstanding. The audience gets it. And the best way to send Hollywood a message is to vote with our wallets. This is word of mouth for sure.
Tell me about the miracles that you experienced along the way.
Estevez: The first miracle that happened was my son met his wife Julia on the Camino. Then, I got to work with my father on this film. We found a partner in David Alexanian who co-produced the movie. We shot the film in Spain, and we were told it would rain every day. It rained twice, and both days we were shooting interior scenes.
Sheen: The film took on a life of its own. We shot in sequence for 40 days. The week before we were to shoot in the cathedral, we still did not have permission. They had never let a film crew in, especially during Mass, except once for a documentary. Emilio was trying to rework the ending, even as we lit candles and prayed for a miracle. Then, with 48 hours to go, we received word that we indeed could film in the cathedral, during Mass, and we had one take. It worked out perfectly.
Alexanian: Every day has been a miracle, including this bus tour. We are truly blessed.
Emilio, how did the fascination with the Camino begin and how did you cast Martin in the film?
Estevez: Well, it actually began with my grandfather's birthplace in Galicia, at the end of El Camino. Then, Martin was on hiatus from "The West Wing" and he had about two weeks in Europe. He decided to check out the Camino by car. He went with my son, Taylor, and a friend, Matt Clark, who plays one of the priests in the movie. They stopped in Burgos, where they had dinner at a local inn. The innkeeper's daughter walked into the room and looked at Taylor. It was love at first sight. They ended up getting married, which was the first miracle of the Camino. After that, Martin kept telling me that if I wanted to see more of Taylor, who now lives in Spain, I needed to produce a movie about the Camino. So I started researching and writing about what I know. It helped that my father lives about 200 yards down the road from me, so he kept nudging me. The role of Tom was written for him, because if I were going to shoot this movie on the Camino, I couldn't imagine doing it without Martin. And what kid doesn't want to tell his parents what to do?
Emilio and Martin, how did Hollywood respond to the film, and how are audiences responding as you make your cross-country bus tour?
Sheen: This is not a movie that Hollywood would make. There is no sex, violence, vulgarity or special effects. That is not where my heart is. We have a responsibility to lift up ourselves and our audience, and raise the bar. The reception to the film has been outstanding. The audience gets it. And the best way to send Hollywood a message is to vote with our wallets. This is word of mouth for sure.
Tell me about the miracles that you experienced along the way.
Estevez: The first miracle that happened was my son met his wife Julia on the Camino. Then, I got to work with my father on this film. We found a partner in David Alexanian who co-produced the movie. We shot the film in Spain, and we were told it would rain every day. It rained twice, and both days we were shooting interior scenes.
Sheen: The film took on a life of its own. We shot in sequence for 40 days. The week before we were to shoot in the cathedral, we still did not have permission. They had never let a film crew in, especially during Mass, except once for a documentary. Emilio was trying to rework the ending, even as we lit candles and prayed for a miracle. Then, with 48 hours to go, we received word that we indeed could film in the cathedral, during Mass, and we had one take. It worked out perfectly.
Alexanian: Every day has been a miracle, including this bus tour. We are truly blessed.
"The Way" was filmed entirely in Spain and France along the actual Camino de Santiago. For more information, go to http://theway-themovie.com
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
"Martin is naturally outgoing. I had to direct him to be withdrawn, a curmudgeon, as he began walking The Way of St. James," said Martin Sheen's son, Emilio Estevez.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Martin Sheen on El Camino De Santiago stops to remember his son at one of the many crosses along the way.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Tom Avery (Martin Sheen), Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger), Joost (Yorick Van Wageningen) and Jack (James Nesbitt) walking The Way in the film of the same name.
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