The Way, My Way (2024): review

Walking without a promise of enlightenment

Bill takes the Camino to Santiago de Compostela despite an injured knee, little experience and no particular spiritual ambition. Chris Haywood plays a sceptical man who finds it increasingly difficult to ignore his own limits. Bill Bennett draws on his own pilgrimage and the book he wrote about it.

I like the restrained approach. This drama does not promise instant transformation through a few attractive landscapes. It takes exhaustion, doubt and the small practical difficulties of walking seriously.

People rather than grand speeches

The encounters carry the film. Cristina and Rosa are among the people who make Bill’s journey more than a physical challenge. Conversations feel casual and approachable, like something overheard at a hostel breakfast table.

Northern Spain’s forests, dry plains and villages are beautifully photographed, but they also reflect Bill’s changing mood. The scenery remains part of his experience rather than turning the film into a travel advertisement.

Not every stage stays with you

The episodic structure has limitations. Some encounters are more affecting than others, and several supporting characters could have used more room. Viewers familiar with pilgrimage stories will also recognise some of the ideas about searching for meaning.

That does not make the film dishonest. Its strength simply lies more in its tone than in an unexpected narrative structure.

Verdict

The Way, My Way is a quiet, humorous and likeable drama about someone unsure where life should go next. Its grounded attitude protects it from excessive sentimentality. Despite a few less memorable stages, the journey is worthwhile for its honest human encounters.