The Way

I first expected The Way to be a boring movie about a man walking a religious path, almost like a documentary. What I learned instead from Tom and his companions is that everyone has a story. Each of the people he walked with seemed annoying or rude before he really got to know them and learned the reason that they were walking on the Camino. Tom's self discovery along the way taught a lesson to me as I watched the movie that everyone can have a second chance to write wrongs no matter what age he or she might be. Tom honored his son and finally understood the reasons he had for choosing to drop out of school, travel, and walk the way. The pilgrimage itself was inspiring because each of the characters had time to change and think as they walked the long journey. Another purpose of the camino was to solve a problem or reach a goal. Each of the characters set out to achieve one thing, but realized the true reason for walking the camino only when they reached the end. Sarah first started the walk in order to quit smoking, but once she reached the end she realized that it was about regaining respect and love for herself and learning to be brave after getting out of a relationship with an abusive husband. She was an introvert and standoffish at the beginning, but by the end learned to open up to her companions. The Way taught an important lesson of self discovery, and the camino was an extremely successful way of doing it.