# Camino (2008 film)

Camino is a 2008 Spanish drama film written, directed and edited by Javier Fesser starring Nerea Camacho as the title character alongside Carmen Elías, Mariano Venancio and Manuela Vellés.
The plot is inspired by (and dedicated to) the real story of Alexia González-Barros, a girl who died from spinal cancer at age 14 in 1985 and who is in process of canonization. The girl's family (related to the Opus Dei) did not agree with the film and so controversy mired the film since the very beginning, and arguably only served to increase interest in the film.
The film swept the 23rd Goya Awards, winning in 6 categories, including 4 of the Big 5 (Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay and Actress).

## Plot

Camino and her family belong to the Opus Dei. She develops a crush for a boy (Cuco/Jesús). Camino's elder sister is a Catholic acolyte, deliberately kept from contacting her family. Suppressing open signs of normal maternal grief, the mother seems almost inhuman in urging her dying daughter to "offer up" her suffering for Jesus. The father struggles to protect his daughter from a concerted effort to canonize her (even before her death) by his wife, elder daughter, and Catholic officials. Even the hospital medical staff seem to be complicit in this.
Jesús, the name Camino invokes, is not Christ, but that of her normal schoolgirl crush. This is shown in dream sequences she experiences throughout the film.

## Cast

* Nerea Camacho as Camino
* Carmen Elías as Gloria Camino's mother.
* Mariano Venancio as José, Camino's father.
* Manuela Vellés as Nuria, Camino's elder sister
* Ana Gracia [es] as Inés
* Lola Casamayor [es] as Tía Marita
* Lucas Manzano as Cuco
* Pepe Ocio [es] as Don Miguel Ángel
* Claudia Otero as Begoña
* Jordi Dauder as Don Luis
* Emilio Gavira as Mr. Meebles
* Miriam Raya as Elena

## Release

The film premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival's official competition. Distributed by Alta Classics, it was theatrically released in Spain on 17 October 2008.

## Reception

The film won six Goya Awards, including best picture, best director, and best original screenplay.

## Criticism by the González-Barros family

Alexia's siblings said that the film was a distortion of the girl's history. They also objected to Fesser's use of Alexia's full name in his dedication, despite him having undertaken not to directly identify her.
In reaction to the film, director Pedro Delgado released a documentary about the life of Alexia González-Barros in 2011, including video footage from the latter's family archives.

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2009 | 14th Forqué Awards | Best Picture | Best Picture | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Film | Best Film | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Director | Javier Fesser | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Javier Fesser | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Actress | Carme Elias | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Jordi Dauder | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best New Actress | Nerea Camacho | Won |
| 2009 | 23rd Goya Awards | Best Special Effects | Arturo Balseiro, Ferrán Piquer, Raúl Romanillos | Nominated |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Leading Role | Carmen Elías | Won |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Leading Role | Mariano Venancio | Won |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Secondary Role | Jordi Dauder | Won |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Minor Role | Lola Casamayor | Won |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actress in a Minor Role | Ana Gracia | Nominated |
| 2009 | 18th Actors and Actresses Union Awards | Best Film Actor in a Minor Role | Pepe Ocio | Nominated |
| 2009 | Vilnius International Film Festival | Audience's Award for Best Film | Audience's Award for Best Film | Won |