All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt

All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is a bold, visual mosaic of a Black girl/woman's life in rural Mississippi, a summation of individual memories of love, heartbreak, grief, and life events told in a nonlinear stream of consciousness. Cinematically, the patient film stays longingly on key moments of her life, most typically moments of connection in embraces or holding hands. The music of nature and strings peacefully bind the movie together. Story wise, I found this movie very hard to get engaged in. Indeed, as a reflection of life, memories do not organize themselves in linearly, instead being a composition of moments at different times for periods long and short. But with little narrative to draw us in and care about Mack and the characters, these patient moments of longing instead often felt unnecessarily slow. I give the filmmaker credit for this bold vision and I appreciate the film on those merits, even though ultimately this film was not for me.

Raven Jackson's All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is a cinematic experience that demands immersion. Every frame is a deliberate brushstroke, from the delicate details of Mack's grandmother's earrings to the sun-kissed texture of her braided hair. The rhythmic symphony of crickets, birdsong, and rumbling thunder serves as a soundtrack to the joys and sorrows of life in rural Mississippi.

Jackson's camera lingers on everyday gestures, weaving a tapestry of a vibrant community where culture sings through church hymns and shared laughter. The film transcends simplistic labels, embracing both joy and pain, prolife and prochoice, in its exploration of humanity's yearning for something greater. It's a love letter to Black history and resilience, whispering untold stories through the rustle of leaves and the intricate patterns of braided hair.

More than just a movie, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is a sensory journey that will leave you swept away by its vivid portrayal of a rich culture, its unflinching honesty about life's struggles, and its ultimately hopeful message about the shared human spirit. This is a film that lingers in the mind and heart long after the credits roll, leaving you breathless with the desire to connect with your own story, your own people, and your own yearning for a brighter tomorrow.

The experience of watching this is like watching an art gallery installation. In a museum, maybe this would work, you sit down for a bit, get immersed in a rich environment, and then move on to see other artworks.

As a cinematic film, it is like watching paint dry. Cannot get invested in the characters or the development. There is a rich story here and that is what is so frustrating. The film is well-made in that it does very well in its shots, cinematography and setting but then it fails miserably in narrative and development.

I have to think this comes down to a terrible script, but cannot be sure.

Either way, it is unwatchable and does not really deserve to be considered for any awards.

"You want to know a secret? It doesn't end or begin. Just changes form."

A quiet, poetic experience that's more about feeling than plot. It's the kind of film that moves slowly and speaks through textures, glances, and memory rather than dialogue. Visually stunning and emotionally raw, even if it won't be for everyone. It takes its time, but if you're in the right headspace, it definitely leaves a mark.

Great art house film using mosaics, clippings, and expressionism to display the decade span of a girl/woman and significant moments, people, and place that shape her. Beautifully shot, gorgeous color and cinematography. The film does not have much dialogue like most movies. Many silent moments such as displays of affection, receiving, and listening, the film does a great job at zooming into moments. The usage of space in the span of time the movie covers is excellent. It could be seen as more of an art house film even by playing with the technique of classic silent films, capturing scenes and movement.

Due to it not being very line heavy, it is hard to tell the personal stories of the characters and is more about the essence of their local micro world/community and how it lives through them as a whole.