 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Way
- Review Date: February 20, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Touching movie filled with mature themes, grief, drinking.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Way -- a drama about a father's grief after his grown son is accidentally killed during a journey in Europe -- isn't likely to have much appeal for younger kids or tweens. The subject matter is mature, the action much more internal than external, and the pace is deliberate and reflective. Lots of wine is consumed during meals in the Spanish villages in which the story is set. One scene shows the drunken hero being taken to jail after a loud, angry rant. A principal character frequently smokes marijuana and offers it to his companions. Cigarette smoking is pervasive. A female reveals that she reluctantly "terminated" a pregnancy some years earlier.
What's the story?
Stunned and saddened to learn that his only son has been accidentally killed while traveling in Europe, Tom Avery (Martin Sheen), a widower and successful doctor in California, flies to France to attend to take custody of the body. Tom and Daniel (Emilio Estevez) had been semi-estranged since Daniel quit graduate school to see the world and live a different life from that of his dad. When the heartbroken Tom arrives, he learns that Daniel had died at the beginning of a pilgrimage along the historical Way of St. James (Camino del Santiago), which stretches from France to the Atlantic Ocean across 800 kilometers of Northern Spain. Alone, embittered, and driven, Tom takes Daniel's ashes and vows to complete his son's odyssey. THE WAY follows that trek with Tom as he meets three distinctive fellow travelers and experiences a country, a people, and a way of life that may enable him to heal and fully bond with the son he loved.
Is it any good?
Heartfelt performances from Sheen and a stellar cast; an inventive, sentiment-free story; and the unforgettable beauty of the Way of St. James and the villages and countryside it passes result in a very touching and affecting experience. Estevez has written and directed a film that feels natural, unforced, and authentic; he takes his time, with lots of it spent on character and the unhurried maturation of its leading man. But The Way is never preachy or slow.
Attention is paid to some of the sacred artifacts and churches along the road, but the movie is more inspiring than religious. Overall, The Way is an engaging film for parents and thoughtful teens that may encourage meaningful discussion.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Tom Avery's journey. What did he learn about his son? What did he learn about himself? Do you think focusing on his physical trip is an effective way to tell the story of his emotional journey?
How does The Way portray the cultural role of alcohol use, specifically wine, in the Spanish villages of the story? How is it different from what you see in stories set in the United States?
How does this movie deal with stereotypes?
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| Topics: | friendship |
| Studio: | Elixir Films |
| Director: | Emilio Estevez |
| Cast: | Deborah Kay Unger, Martin Sheen, Yorick Van Wagingen |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 121 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | October 9, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | February 21, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some thematic elements, drug use, and smoking |
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