Question about the film "The Way"

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Torolf

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In the film Tom Avery played by Martin Sheen walks the Camino de Santiago with the cremated remains of his son after his son dies in an accident along the pilgrimage. In the film Tom leaves little piles of his son’s ashes along the path at small shrines and churches then scatters the remaining ashes in the sea. Tom and his son are both portrayed as Catholics though lapsed at least at the beginning of the journey.

I know Catholics can be cremated but I’ve read that the ashes have to be kept together and either buried or stored in a sacred place like a church columbarium. The source I read did mention that burial at sea was allowed for the ashes and that a Bishop could make an exception in certain cases. Would what we saw in the film likely be allowed by a bishop or approved by the Church? It seemed odd to me since the film was written and directed by Sheen and his son Emilio who both claim to be practicing Catholics.
 
This film is not a theological doctrinal teaching instrument. It is a movie.

Practicing Catholic actors can portray roles where the characters do things that are outside Catholic teachings. They have both played a wide range of roles, including Martin Sheen playing a crazed murderer.
 
Agreed. @TheLittleLady.

I still can find some good in movies that have “mistakes” in them. I gave a copy to a non-Catholic friend and he loved it. He said he might consider converting someday. So, you never know. Even movies with faults can move people. It has a touching father/son aspect to it.
 
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