Buen Camino: A Review of the film, The Way


Buen Camino
A Review of the film, The Way

I heard about this film due to a blog I read about Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s recommendation: http://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/cardinal-designate-dolans-address-to-pope-benedict-and-the-college-of-cardinals/

This film is not a “Christian” film in the same sense as the film Fireproof or The Passion of the Christ was. I don’t think it was intended for it to be that way. It is a secular film that I think tries to tap into the natural human desire, nay, human need, for the transcendent. From a Catholic perspective, I know what this hunger for the transcendent is; it is called actual grace, calling all men and women to the Truth, which is knowable and attainable through the instruments which Jesus Christ has left behind for the world to come to the knowledge of it. C.S. Lewis used the experience of this hunger for a thing which this world cannot satisfy as a proof for the existence of God.

In my opinion, this film can be appreciated by persons of all faith traditions. I would dare to say that even atheists would be able to appreciate this film. One character from the movie puts it this way, “It’s not about religion”. Not yet, anyway. It touches the human heart. It reaches out to those who have the personal experience of being in a family where the warmth and experience of love has been long gone or was never there to begin with. It reaches out to those who have experienced loss. It reaches out to those who have focused so much on the concerns of this world, that they ignored the needs of the human soul. I submit to you, the most basic summary of the purpose and meaning of life is to be in a loving relationship. With God, first and foremost, with others, and with the self.

I don’t want to spoil anything from the film, so I will not go into details. I believe everyone will approach this film coming from a very different and unique experience. Our past experience and present dispositions will be the lenses with which we approach this film. I can tell you, I watched this film in a time in my life, a very pivotal moment in my life, where I am now faced with more uncertainties, anxieties, and heartache than I have had in my entire life. But, experiencing the insights of this film has become yet another source, among other recent films, sermons, books, and articles which have come across my path; I believe, providentially. I know it sounds cliché, but this film could potentially be life transforming. For me, it has caused me to reflect on my life and the choices that I have made. But as you will learn from this film, you don’t choose a life, you live one. It has given me an opportunity to fortify a still developing and evolving philosophy of life which I hope to share in my writing one day. Not yet. For now, I recommend this film to all of you. I can’t guarantee anything to you, but I will say this, if it can soften my hardened heart, I pray it will soften yours as well.

God Bless you this day and all your days!

Laurence G.

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