The Salt Path

Perhaps not my usual type of film. I hadn't read the book and wasn't aware of any of the story except what I had seen in the trailers. It was a story beautifully told and well acted by Gillian Anderson and Jason Issacs. Clearly a film that appealed more to a certain type of audience. It's fair to say that the audience was highly weighted towards women of a certain age with a smattering of husbands/partners who may well have been willing attendants or under a three line whip. The great acting was accompanied by stunning scenery and beautiful music. A very pleasant two hours spent this afternoon.

As Ray and Moth are on the cusp of retirement, they lose their home and savings in one unlucky swoop. To make things worse Moth is diagnosed with a rare and terminal neurodegenerative disease. In a "glory before death" type of decision, the distraught couple begins a journey on the Salt Path. The 630-mile trail runs along the English coast from Dorset to Somerset. Through good and bad moments including rainstorms, rude people, snoring, physical exhaustion, limping, humor, beautiful scenery, unexpectedly profound moments of insight, deep realizations about each other, and natural wonders, Moth and Ray discover a new definition of "home."

I believe deeply in the healing power of nature for body, heart, mind, and soul. When I go into the natural world, whether in joy or pain, I exit renewed and hopeful. All my life this has been true. This inspiring true story backs up this cherished belief. Along the Salt Path the wonders of nature are experienced in the bird songs, ocean swells, curious seals, sunsets, resplendent forests, and more.

The Salt Path is based on a 2018 memoir of the same name. Director Marianne Elliott relies less on the words of the book, and more on the actual experience of the trail. At this world premiere screening of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, Elliott said it was challenging to film on location, but the results were worth the cost. Agreed, for the trail is stunningly serene and it speaks for itself.

I' will confess that I was slightly underwhelmed by this film but nonetheless I still enjoyed it. Although the basis is based on real events there are no great surprises and this kind of thing has been seen before in other films in recent years such as A Walk In the Woods or The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.but

That being said, Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson are both excellent and hold the slight story together very well. Anderson has never looked less glamorous as she does here and is almost unrecognisable putting in an understated but believable performance. Isaac's similarly looked different to what we've seen him in before and shows us all that given a good script he is actually a surprisingly deep actor. The two of them work very well together and you really do feel their despair and believe their love for each other keeps them strangely optimistic, dignified and grateful for small mercies.

The film does sag a little bit in places and doesn't really expand much on what led to their bankruptcy. That said though the film is a small scale effort held together by some big performances. Perhaps not essential viewing but a rewarding one nonetheless.

Well acted directed & filmed . Most enjoyable.. The scenery was beautiful. Could have been improved by informing where they had reached with the mileage they had walked was shown . An excellent cast well supported by the likes of Dennis Lill & Hermonie Norris Some humour too " Huh The Cake Police " . Could have been a bit clearer as to why they lost the farm .

The camera work was brilliant . Jason Isaccs & Gillian Anderson had a screen presence. Both really felt the parts surely some Oscar nominations must be on the cards for acting director screen & camera work . Never once got bored or looked at my watch.

Based on the true story of Moth (Jason Isaacs) and Ray (Gillian Anderson) Winn, who after losing their house in an unspecified court procedure, discover that Moth has an incurable illness. Homeless, they decide to walk from Minehead to Land's End. After many difficulties and adventures they arrive, but with a brand new existential mindset based around 'home' being not their old farmhouse, but wherever they happen to be.

It's a lovely story written from Ray's 600 pages of notes she wrote during their journey, and in a nutshell sends a message of never give up, always keep hope, recognise what you have instead of what you haven't.

Isaacs plays an excellent part, Anderson is good, but lacks the depth of acting needed to make the role great. There's some beautiful countryside and great editing and all in all I give it a solid 7.