Erwin.Shawn.The.Way

The Way was also one of my favorite movies we have seen thus far. While the journey is a religious pilgrimage, it isn’t always so for those who take it. While it may or may not be religious in nature for those who take it I would equate it with the Hajj taken by Muslims to Mecca. Regardless, there is a profound spiritual essence that permeates those who take the Journey. It is interesting to note that the four main characters are taking up the Journey not for religious or even spiritual reasons, but personal self betterment. Joost is taking up the Journey in order to be in better physical shape, Jack is doing it to write a book, and Sarah is doing so to get away from an abusive husband and to quit smoking. Thomas is the only character set out with a goal that resembles some sort of spiritual calling. He decides to walk the Journey and spread the ashes of his son at major points.

Throughout the movie we see a transition from a sense of profane to that of a more transcendent. We see this most profoundly in Thomas. He goes from the atypical American who is caught up in the profane materialistic existence. Over the course of the Journey he transforms. At the start he seems to take the Journey as if it were a race, attempting to complete his task of spreading his son’s ashes as quickly as possible. The Journey is a representation of spiritual growth of the inner self and with others. The four main characters start to grow on each other, by learning about each and accepting each other for who they are they are also able to accept themselves.