The film directed by Australian film-maker Bill Bennett was shown in Valletta on May 24 as part of an international event focused on the Camino de Santiago and other European pilgrimage routes.
The film, based on Bennett’s own book, a memoir of the same name, documents his journey along the Camino Francés from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela. Filmed in 2023 with a small crew, the production favours natural light, real locations, and the presence of actual pilgrims over fictional devices. It offers a direct portrayal of the walking experience: daily routine, environment, physical effort, shared moments, and personal transformation.
Several of the original pilgrims featured in the film attended the premiere, including well-known Maltese pilgrim and influencer Johnnie Walker Santiago, and Italians Giovanna Donzelli and Iván Boffi, who appear as themselves and accompanied Bennett on his first pilgrimage in 2003. Actress and producer Jennifer Cluff, Bennett’s wife and co-producer of the film, was also present.
The Way – My Way combines professional actors and real-life pilgrims; of the twenty speaking roles, only four were played by actors.
Chris Haywood plays the lead role in a production that avoided external interference and followed the geographical sequence of the Camino. The soundtrack includes original compositions by Jackson Milas and the Camino anthem “Somewhere Along the Way” by Dan Mullins.
The film has begun its international release in countries such as Germany, Italy, and the United States, and was also presented at the Cannes Film Festival.
The screening took place at the Valletta headquarters of the Din l-Art Ħelwa Foundation as part of the General Assembly of Camino Europa Compostela, a network of Jacobean associations diplomats, academics, and cultural professionals from various countries.
The event held for the first time outside the Iberian Peninsula, took place from May 24 to 26. This edition was organised by XirCammini, the Maltese association hosting the Assembly, led by James Portelli, promoter of six pilgrimage routes in Malta, including the Maltese Camino to Santiago. It was attended by the Spanish Ambassador to Malta, José María Muriel, and the Australian High Commissioner, Matt Skelly. Both highlighted the Camino’s role as a bridge between continents and peoples.
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The article was provided by XirCammini.
