Tara Thompson - The Way

My brother told me to watch The Way a few months ago, but hadn’t until this class. I absolutely loved this movie though. Not only did it make me want to go on the Camino that much more, but it was such a great movie on forgiveness and acceptance. One huge theme that I felt through the movie was forgiveness of one’s self. Each character had some struggle or reason they were on the trail, and whether it seems deep or not, each had deep roots that fed into anger with themselves. For Tom it was the fact that he hadn’t been there to support and love his son. Tom was concerned in doing things the way he thought they should be done, and because of that looked down on his son for wanting to live differently. Tom was scared to truly live it seems. Sarah was dealing with anger towards herself, too. I think her anger developed from letting go of her child and being in such an unhealthy relationship. She is  angry with herself for making such poor decisions that have led up to this. Joost is also angry for himself. He is angry that he allowed himself to get fat, and that his wife doesn’t love him. During the Camino he says he wants to lose weight, but it is much deeper than that. He desired for his wife to love him again, and hes angry because he doesn’t know how. He is angry because he selfishly puts eating above looking good for her. Jack is also angry with himself. He is angry because he had dreams to be a huge writer, but has let himself settle with travel magazine, writing about things that he doesn’t truly have passion for.

Through out the movie each character is wrestling with their anger. At the end of the film you get the sense that each has found acceptance in their past and their failures, and have come to some how forgive themselves. They each leave with a sense of peace that makes the audience believe that they are ready to move on and work on what is to come.