CLEARLAKE, Calif. –Second Sunday Cinema will mark the holidays with  a film celebrating the intersection of spirituality and humanity.

“The Way” will be shown on Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Clearlake United Methodist Church, 14521 Pearl Ave. in Clearlake.  

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for snacks and socializing. The film, which begins at 6 p.m., is free.

“The Way” stars Martin Sheen as a cantankerous ophthalmologist who is very invested in his son becoming a doctor. So he’s rather angry when his son drops out of med school to walk “The Way,” a 500-mile-long path through France and Spain, the Camino de Santiago, that pilgrims have been walking for 1,000 years.  

His son is accidentally killed very early in his walk, and Tom goes to Europe to claim his body for burial back home.  

But when he picks up his son’s backpack and guidebook, Tom has a sudden change of heart, choosing instead to cremate the body and bring the ashes with him as he completes his son’s trek.

He’s eventually joined by three unlikely others, all with their own agendas, stated and unstated. As one might guess, the pilgrimage is more challenging and eventful than one might guess at the start.  

Every one of the four is truly imperfect, and everyone wants to run away at times. But sticking with their commitment to themselves and each other, each slowly realizes – makes real – what they really need.

This is a documentary-like, intimate yet powerful film made as a labor of love by Sheen and his other son, Emilio Estevez.  

Though both Sheen and Estevez say many “miracles” occurred during the filming trek, neither sees this as a film for Christians only, nor does it come across that way.

This is a film about human beings who need to connect, not only with God, but with each other and ultimately, with themselves.  

Barbara Christwitz will lead a discussion after the film for those who wish to participate.