Strangers on the Earth: Screening and interview with the Director

June 23, 2022

Perhaps Europe’s most popular pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago attracts wayfarers of all stripes to walk its ancient paths in search of meaning. One such pilgrim is Dane Johansen, an American cellist who in 2014 ventured to walk the Camino with his instrument on his back, performing music for his fellow pilgrims along the way. As Dane soon discovers, the paths we travel through life are often uncomfortably magnified by the reality of life on the Camino. Accompanied by the vast landscapes of Northern Spain, the haunting music of J.S. Bach for solo cello (performed by Johansen), and the very personal struggles and joys of the many pilgrims encountered along the way, Strangers on the Earth examines the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the concept of ‘journey’ and the vital role it can play as part of the human experience.

Tristan Cook: Whether conceptual film, documentary or live concert, the work of director Tristan Cook examines systems of human expression at the intersection of cinema and the performing arts. His debut feature documentary, Strangers on the Earth, was hailed by the L.A. Times as “an inspiring and transporting portrait” of life and music along Spain’s Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. He has collaborated extensively with artists and organizations such as the Emerson String Quartet, pianist Inon Barnatan, violinist Augustin Hadelich, New York Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, La Jolla Summerfest, and Music@Menlo. He is currently the Filmmaker-in-Residence at the Bravo Vail Music Festival. Tristan holds a B.F.A. from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.