It is said that in the mountains of northwestern Spain, at the city of Santiago de Compostela, the remains of St. James the Apostle are enshrined under the altar of the city’s great cathedral. It is to this place that thousands of pilgrims make a pilgrimage each year. The road to this holy place passes over the Pyrenees, through villages and hostels along difficult terrain and gorgeous countryside, and is no stroll on a quiet beach. It is on this road, on this pilgrimage, that director Emilio Estevez has placed his camera, his story and his father, actor Martin Sheen.

“The Way” tells us the story of a simple man we know only as Tom. Tom is a California ophthalmologist, settled comfortably in the lush green hills near Los Angeles. Tom, a widower, runs a nice practice, dines alone and plays cards and golf with his fellow doctors. He misses his son, Daniel, but the two have been slightly off key for many years. Daniel, played in flashbacks and visions by director Emilio, puts his doctorate studies away and goes off to see the world. He starts by making the famous pilgrimage alone.

While out on the golf course, Tom gets a call that his son has died in an accident, just as he was starting out on the road. Tom flies to the village where the pilgrims begin, to recover Daniel’s remains. It is here, after a soulful discussion with the local police chief (Tcheky Karyo) who too, has lost a child, that Tom decides to finish the pilgrimage in his son’s name. Packing Daniel’s ashes into his son’s backpack, and taking all of his equipment, Tom sets off on the road to Santiago de Compostela alone.

Along the way he meets other pilgrims, three men and one woman, all of whom have their own reasons for the journey, and each pack a secret of their own. Tom, embittered over the loss of his son and impatient with strangers, is forced to share the road with them and others, but he keeps to himself and rudely at times, rejects any human connection.

We meet Sarah (Deborah Kara Unger) a Canadian woman with side-slip biting wit, who smokes too much and is taking the walk to finally give up the habit. When her efforts to warm up to Tom are sharply rejected, she takes solace with the others, Jack, a drunken Irish writer (James Nesbitt) who came along to break a long writer’s block, and Joost, (Yorik Van Wageningen) a big-bellied, verbose Dutchman who walks to lose his belly before his daughter’s wedding. None of the four claim any spiritual or religious motives for their journey, and Tom hides his reason from all. But the story clearly sets markers that open the hidden doors of each, and bit by bit, waves of light push their secrets into the open.

Emilio has come a long way from the Brat Pack and “The Breakfast Club.” Clearly he has grown as an actor and has enormous gifts as a director. It’s clear to see that his truly big picture is yet to come.

Father Martin Sheen is, as usual, the splendid and powerful actor he’s always been. One only has to look at his resume to see a litany of brilliant movie roles, from “The Subject Was Roses,” “Apocalypse Now” to the great “West Wing.” Sheen is to acting what Tiffany is to silver.

Unger (“Samuel Bleak” “Bangkok Hilton”) is an actress who brings a smoky sensuality, toughness and intelligence to her role. She once played Ava Gardener in a terrible film called “Rat Pack” and walked away unscathed. Nesbitt and Van Wageningen hold their own in the overwhelming light of Sheen. Not a small thing.

“The Way” is not afraid of being sentimental. It dances around the edges of spirituality and religion in the cathedral scenes without cozying up, but the incense of all of that lingers long after the walk. The picture lovingly caresses the gorgeous countryside, folding it into the action without becoming a travelogue. This is a credit to the work of Juan Miguel Aziroz, whose camera work makes us feel the sun and wind on our faces and the heat of the gypsy bonfires.

“The Way” may not win Oscars, but it’s a safe bet that director, lead and picture will be nominated. There is too much power, beauty and honesty there to be ignored.

J.P. Devine is a former stage and screen actor.

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