This is the charming and captivating true story of a stubborn, self-centred Australian man who decides to walk the 800-kilometre-long Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route through Spain. He doesn’t know why he’s doing it… but one step at a time, it will change him and his outlook on life forever.
The film is based on filmmaker Bill Bennett’s best-selling memoir of the same name.
He sets off, not sure why he is doing it, and not feeling comfortable. His discomfort increases markedly a few days later when his knee gives out – so the rest of the walk was a ‘pain management pilgrimage,’ Bill says.
‘I’d never done anything crazy like this before – a pilgrimage walk. I was not a hiker, and I wasn’t a Catholic. In fact, I wasn’t even sure I was a Christian. On the last government census when I had to state my religion, I’d said I was a Buddhist, mainly because they’ve had such a hard time in Tibet I felt they needed my statistical support. I was also not an adventure traveller. For me, adventure travel was flying coach. All this backpacking and wearing of heavy boots and flying off to walk ancient pilgrimage routes was a new experience, and not one that made me feel entirely comfortable.’
Now showing at Palace Cinema, Byron Bay.
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