At Father's Urging, Estevez Makes Film He Sees as Metaphor for Life

Catholic News Service reports on the latest movie-making venture of actor-director Emilio Estevez, taken on at the urging of his father, Martin Sheen:

TORONTO (CNS) -- Actor and director Emilio Estevez reluctantly went to Spain to tell a story about how faith, hope and walking are all part of the American way of overcoming hard times.

The movie has "no nudity. There are no explosions. There are no car chases," said Estevez. "It's about people. It's about this community of broken souls. And there's a ton of humor in it."

Estevez told The Catholic Register, a Canadian weekly, that his new film "The Way" is about American spirituality. The story follows four characters walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or the Way of St. James, through Spain.

"Americans are searching for something. The Camino serves as the ultimate metaphor for life," said Estevez.

The movie premieres Sept. 10 at the Toronto International Film Festival, where Estevez will be seeking a North American distribution deal. The film is to be distributed outside North America by Icon Productions.

It was Estevez's father, Martin Sheen, who first proposed making a film about the Camino seven years ago. During a break in filming "The West Wing," Sheen had attended a family reunion in Ireland, then headed for Spain to walk the Camino. But Sheen had to be back in the United States and did not have the six to eight weeks it takes to walk the pilgrim's path to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St. James the Greater can be found.

Sheen, his grandson and a family friend did most of the route by Mercedes, but walked part of the way.

The veteran film actor came back and insisted his son had to make a movie about the Camino. At first, Estevez said no.

"It's the old dilemma," said Estevez. "You can't say no to your father."

[Read the whole thing]

(Hat tip: A Catholic View)


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Martin Sheen ... Pro-Life