Locals Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez’s film “The Way” is set to premiere at a New York event benefitting the Walkabout Foundation, with President Bill Clinton as the keynote speaker, Oct. 5.
“The Way,” tells the story of an American doctor, played by Sheen, who travels to France to retrieve the remains of his adult son, played by Estevez, killed during a storm in the Pyrenees while walking the “Camino de Santiago,” also known as “The Way of Saint James.” The father decides to embark on the historic pilgrimage himself instead of returning home, creating new relationships and learning valuable life lessons along the way. The film was written and directed by Estevez and produced by David Alexanian.
The Walkabout Foundation is nonprofit organization that works to find a cure for paralysis and donates wheelchairs to people in need around the world. Siblings Luis and Carolina Gonzalez-Bunster started the foundation in 2009. The pair was inspired to create the foundation through Luis’ experiences, who is paralyzed from he chest down.
When Carolina and Luis’ father, Ronaldo, met Estevez and Alexanian on a plane, the plans for the event began. The group began talking about the “Camino de Santiago,” the pilgrimage route the film is based on. The Gonzalez-Bunster family had walked the same route, Luis was the first person paralyzed from the chest down to complete it, and started the foundation the same year the movie was filmed.
“I am so honored that ‘The Way’ can be part of this incredible event, and that this screening will benefit the Walkabout Foundation,” Estevez said in a press release. “The work of the foundation truly embodies the spirit of our film, encouraging people to live life to the fullest despite all obstacles. Everyone involved with ‘The Way’ is so proud to have this platform to debut our film, and to bring awareness to the important work done by the Walkabout Foundation.”
The premiere, which marks the end of the film’s cross-country promotional bus tour, takes place Wednesday at the School of Visual Arts Theater and Mondrian SoHo in New York City, N.Y. More information can be obtained by visiting www.walkaboutfoundation.org/theway.