The Excitement in Santiago: A Review of Walking the Camino

From the moment I discovered the dates of the Camino documentary’s Santiago viewings, I knew I had to do everything in my power to be part of the joyous occasion.

My Camino this time had taken quite a few different turns but my arrival to Santiago was sure to provide me with even more surprises. I invited my travel friends (whom I met on my first Camino in 2011) to join me in viewing the film. With quite a few Camino experiences under our belts, we looked forward to seeing the film through experienced eyes. We were not disappointed in any way.

The audience consisted mostly of pilgrims and not surprisingly given the location. Lydia introduced herself and as the organizers opened the gallery to more viewers, she leveraged the time to answer a few questions from the group. The anticipation could be felt as the film began; I tried to imagine how Lydia might have felt knowing most of the audience were likely her most challenging critics as experienced pilgrims.

It soon became evident that we were wrapped into the story of each featured pilgrim. We all laughed together during moments we had all lived through – the snoring at night, the rain, the blisters. For myself, I virtually walked with the featured pilgrims as they covered the same ground I had covered. I empathized with their challenges, their internal struggles and their emotional moments. I could hear whispers of audience members saying “Remember that albergue?,”  “Oh, I was there also!” or “I know how hard that section was to cross.”

I shed a few tears, laughed and grew closer to the featured pilgrims and by the end of the movie I felt I somehow knew them. I valued their honesty and their willingness to share their stories. From the heartfelt applause I knew I wasn’t alone in my appreciation. What made the evening even better was having the opportunity to finally meet Lydia in person, along with two of the featured pilgrims.

It was clear that their relationships that developed during the taping of the movie extended far beyond the scope of the movie. I felt privileged to be part of that special evening and judging from the response of those in the audience, this film touched many in a positive way.

As pilgrims we share a special bond and the movie is an extension of that bond. I believe Lydia’s dream of portraying the Camino experience will incite potential pilgrims to fulfill their dreams and will provide experienced pilgrims an opportunity to relive their dreams. I look forward to the general release of this film so I can watch it more often and share this successful film with others. Congratulations to Lydia and her entire team!