The Milky Way

The events occur in a late 1960s European setting, a time of social questioning and religious debate. The pilgrims encounter institutional church figures and doctrinal discussions that mirror broader cultural shifts of the era. The mood blends contemporary existential inquiry with timeless themes of faith, making the journey feel both historical and immediate.

The journey unfolds from the outskirts of Paris near Fontainebleau through countryside inns, farms, and boarding schools, tracing the traditional Way of St. James toward Santiago de Compostela. It moves across France into Spain, with stops that include small towns, monasteries, and chapels, each serving as a backdrop for faith and doubt. The settings juxtapose sacred spaces with everyday life, highlighting how place shapes the pilgrims’ reflections and temptations.

🕊️ Faith vs Doubt

The pilgrims confront official dogma and personal beliefs as they stumble upon debates about transubstantiation, the Immaculate Conception, and predestination. Faith is portrayed as a living, troubling question rather than a fixed certainty. Miracles and visions blur the line between belief and skepticism. The journey becomes a test of what one is willing to accept in the name of faith.

🧭 Pilgrimage & Meaning

The Way of St. James is treated as both literal travel and a spiritual expedition. The road exposes temptations, human frailty, and moments of grace, inviting the characters to seek purpose beyond mere destination. Encounters along the route intensify personal reckonings and redefine what a destination truly represents. The pilgrimage becomes an ongoing search for meaning rather than a final arrival.

🌪️ Authority & Dogma

The film juxtaposes religious hierarchy with lay doubt, featuring priests, a bishop, and inquisitive figures who argue about grace, mercy, and the nature of the Trinity. Doctrinal disputes collide with lived experience, revealing how institutional authority can clash with individual conscience. This tension questions whether dogma can sustain genuine spiritual insight. The result is a provocative meditation on power, tradition, and personal belief.

🌟 Miracles & Vision

Apparitions and miraculous moments appear alongside stark realities of violence and mortality. The Virgin Mary and other visions complicate the pilgrims’ understanding of truth, prompting reflection rather than confirmation. The film treats miracles as ambiguous, leaving interpretation to the viewer and highlighting how belief negotiates ambiguity. These visions drive character decisions and deepen the sense that reality itself may be contested.