Checco Zalone’s new film, “Buen Camino”, is not only a comedy but also a visual journey through three symbolic places that accompany the transformation of the protagonist. The locations chosen are not simple backdrops, but become an integral part of the narrative, reflecting the path of inner growth that leads Checco from a life of unbridled luxury to the rediscovery of authentic values.
Sardinia of luxury
The film opens in the splendid setting of northern Sardinia, where the first scenes were shot. The Costa Smeralda, with its views, Porto Cervo and Santa Teresa di Gallura in the Gallura area are the backdrop to the protagonist’s opulent life. The turquoise sea, white beaches and postcard landscapes represent what could be defined as a gilded cage: an apparently perfect but insubstantial existence, where material wealth hides an existential void.
Rome, the city of passage
After Sardinia, the narrative moves to the capital, which acts as a bridge between two opposing worlds. The Roman shots touched on some of the most characteristic views of the city: Piazza di Campitelli, Piazza delle Cinque Lune near Piazza Navona and the Lungotevere. The historic buildings, the residential neighborhoods and the interiors of the company inherited from his father tell the story of Checco’s daily life before the turning point. Rome represents the necessary interlude before the great change, as if to make the passage towards a completely different dimension less traumatic.
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The Camino de Santiago
The central and most significant part of the film takes place along the famous Camino de Santiago de Compostela, a pilgrimage route of approximately 800 kilometers that crosses various Spanish and French regions. Filming began in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, a traditional starting point for pilgrims, then continued through Navarre and Castile to cities such as Pamplona, Puente la Reina, Estella, Los Arcos and Burgos.
The Spanish landscape turns out to be the exact opposite of the Sardinian one: instead of the crystalline sea there are golden wheat fields, churches built in rough stone replace luxurious villas, and Spartan hostels take the place of yachts. This visual simplicity accompanies the internal transformation of the protagonist, who learns to travel carrying only the essentials with him.
The climax of the story arrives in Galicia, in the historic city of Santiago de Compostela. Here, in the majestic Plaza de Obradoiro, the final destination of thousands of pilgrims every year, the final scenes of the film were shot. This place full of spirituality and meaning closes the circle of Checco’s journey, sealing his personal rebirth.
