User reviews

The recent revelations about the criminal actions of the author, and questions raised about her husband's medical condition, have cast a shadow over both the book and this film. However, if we can set these aside, and watch it as a scenic ramble round Britain's beautiful south west coastline, it's a pleasantly enjoyable film, if not entirely original in its content, or moral message. There have been a number of dramas showing an individual, or, in this case, a couple, who, after suffering some personal reverse, decide to drop everything and set off on a long distance hike. Along the way they learn a valuable lesson about their own strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of the kindness of strangers. This is broadly the message of this film too, which ticks the life-affirming boxes, without saying anything terribly original. The reasons for them being in such a difficult position are skated over very quickly at the start - given the recent controversy that's probably just as well - though as a set up for the rest of the plot, it does feel a bit rushed.

I was lucky enough to see the film at the Picturehouse Central, Piccadilly Circus, with a Q&A afterwards where the writer Raynor Winn, director Marianne Elliott and screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz were joined by actor Jason Isaacs who played Raynor's real life husband Moth.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and maybe even provoke a bit of negativity by saying that isn't a great film.

Don't get me wrong, I anticipate it getting a very solid if not outstanding imdb rating around the 6.7 mark but purely as a film this isn't up there with a work of fiction like say The Shawshank Redemption or even a film based on a true story like The Pursuit of Happyness.

But if you stopped reading there you'd miss a lot about this film and whether you should watch it - because for all of its shortcomings I think a lot of people will enjoy this film and I'd go so far as to say love this film.

So the Salt Path is a film based on the book by the same name by Raynor Winn about a wild camping coastal walk she and her husband undertook following a sudden downturn in their financial fortunes meaning they effectively became homeless late in middle age losing all the material wealth they had worked for in life up to that point. Don't worry by the way, there are no spoilers here and nothing I say will go much beyond what you'd glean from the trailer and film promotion interviews.

So the film is essentially a journey, metaphorically but also literally a long walk in South West England starting in Somerset and intercut with flashbacks. It's not a glamorous Hollywood Thelma and Louise style road trip in an open top car but a rather more reserved and parochial simple backpacking walk along the admittedly equally dramatic and beautiful scenery of the England coastline.

In fact with Moth - yes that's moth like in butterfly - the husband, he has an illness so it's not even a straightforward walk with him often clearly struggling and his wife Raynor, the writer of the book the film is based on, literally physically supporting him.

Now the character names are rather curious but this is a true story so they aren't made up. Moth is reminiscent of the moth that flies too close to the flame and winn is like winner which is ironic given the couple's change of fortunes, the nature of which is gradually revealed to us in flashbacks over the course of their journey.

In the Q&A after the screening reference was made to the film being a three hander with husband and wife of course but nature as the third hand - and there certainly are some beautiful shots of the natural world which provide a variously calming and dramatic backdrop to the physical, mental and emotional challenges faced by the protagonists. Jason Isaacs made the point however that there are other characters in the film and how they perceive and treat the couple is equally telling of humans and society in general and the sometimes flawed judgements we inevitably make.

But I did like this film, I even loved it in parts but by that I don't mean a particular narrative sequence or particular cinematic elements of the medium.

I didn't love it particularly for the story which is engaging though not molded to conform to the traditional Aristotelian dramatic three act or epic hero's journey form.

Neither for the acting which by Gillian and Jason especially is solid, believable and heartwarming.

Nor for the directing which gives us the shots and performances needed to tell the story.

Now Director Marianne Elliott comes from a theatre background and this is her first foray into film. In the Q&A she revealed she wanted her first film to have an older strong female protagonist and be cinematic, playing to the medium's strengths - in fact she chose the screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz for her ability to tell a story without words and the cinematography effortlessly shifts from intimate closeups of the couple to sweeping vista drone shots.

The editing in turn intrigues and satisfies to keep us engaged, the music is moving and the costume and make up well executed - I've never seen Anderson look so convincingly haggard in scenes and the bravery to show herself in that way reminded me of the similarly exceptionally beautiful Nicole Kidman in Destroyer.

But again none of these aspects are why I loved The Salt Path. So if not for story, acting, directing, cinematography, editing, music, costume or makeup then what?

Well, like Oppenheimer, which despite the awards and plaudits, is a very flawed film, this is an important story.

It's a story of the love and resilience of our protagonists but equally ther relationship with the natural world and its power to inspire and heal us - a magical and mystical power that is all the more astonishing by being around us and familiar to us every single day of our lives.

The sense in the film of the love between husband and wife is palpable and the characters themselves are intriguing. We are left wondering what they did in their lives up to where we meet them. Jason Isaac's character, Moth, is an affable polymath who can as easily turn his hand to a spot of DIY as literary analysis of epic poetry.

Now the film never brought me to tears even though the trailer almost did - not least because of the transcendent life affirming score by Chris Roe. And it didn't fill me with inspiration for what humans are capable of in the face of adversity. Neither did it thrill me with twists, turns and clever plot devices.

But what it did do is leave me with a feeling.

The feeling of a real sense of the love between the husband and wife protagonists. A feeling of optimism about our most intimate human relationships - by which I mean our relationships with each other but also our relationship with the natural world we are all part of.

I said this isn't a great film. And I stand by that. There are films that employ the many strengths of the medium better. But it's a film I enjoyed and in many ways loved. I came away from it feeling love - both for the storyteller and the truth behind the story itself.

So not a great film in the traditional sense. But a lovely film! And I wish it every success.

There is no doubt that what drew me to this movie was the casting of Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaac. Two supreme actors who continue to enthrall me and entertain. I soon became engrossed in the story and was mesmerised by both actors, whose performances brought into stark reality the awful circumstances of their characters. Tragic, dramatic but heartwarming this is not a movie of sensations but it is gritty realism. Great production and wonderful images of the beautiful south west of England are a great backdrop to this harrowing journey that set a stunning contrast to the pain and anguish of the plight of the two. Hats off to Gillian and Jason for very fine performances and for recreating the accents and manner of speech of the midlands characters. This film impressed me and left me wanting more.

Very disappointed with this film. I enjoyed the book but the film never captured the essence of their story. Gillian was weak and the dialogue very hard to hear. The change from the book was frustrating and we didn't see the South coast. We didn't need to see the sex scene. It trashed the book. So sorry the film makers didn't develop the truth behind the walk. I can't understand when you have a good story to tell and the narrative of the book that the film relied so heavily on the scenery. Feedback, rather than list the miles, tell us where they actually were in Cornwall. Spent today feeling sad the film such a disappointment.

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.

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.

As far as I can see, this film is a deeply moving and visually stunning adaptation that captures the essence of Raynor Winn's memoir. The movie follows a couple, penniless and facing a terminal diagnosis, who decide to walk the 630-mile-long South West Coast Path. The film masterfully balances the raw emotion of their struggle with the breathtaking beauty of the English coastline. Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs deliver powerful, understated performances that make their characters' journey feel authentic and profoundly human. The cinematography is a star in itself, portraying the rugged, ever-changing landscape as both a challenge and a source of solace. The narrative, while simple in premise, is rich with themes of resilience, love, and the healing power of nature. This isn't just a story about a walk; it's a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Is it worth watching? Absolutely. It is a heartwarming and beautifully shot film that offers a powerful message of hope and resilience, making it a truly enriching cinematic experience.

I knew nothing of the source material memoir (never even knew it existed), so that didn't color my experience. As a man in his early 60s, what I saw was an authentic relationship of a middle-aged couple embarking on a journey to put a crisis behind them, still deeply in love despite it all and there for each other, support each other and rest in one another. The screenplay might have felt meandering at times, but that's because it's not the three-act "Hero's Journey" we're used to. Moth and Ray are literally trying to find their way after their life is upended, and the characters they meet along that path are various aspects of life. If you're willing to let things unfold, highly recommended.

What a con job! Turns out this pair were liars about their story. They were on the run after stealing 64,000 pounds from their employer. And they had a house in France they could have gone to. What else did they lie about? Who were the fools who made a film about them without checking their story? And I paid $16 for their book. I want my money back!

What's worse is the company that produced this, Number 9 Productions, didn't even do the basics to verify their story. Like what their real names were? Where they went to school? Just awful, we trust companies like this to do the basics. It took a real investigative journalist from The Observer to see through this pack of lies.

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie, because of the nature shots, intimate scènes between Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs and I just wanted to stay in that world a little longer. They are showing their real faces, wrinkles and spots and all, and I loved them for it.

I've read the book and I feel they followed it quite strictly. Seeing the movie gave me that extra time I would have liked after I finished the book.

The way the movie is written, it solves for 'endless walking scenes' by shocking you to life every 10m or so. Either by an event, the light, or music, or something. That was well thought through, so it's not just forever walking till boredom. At all.

The connection between Anderson and Isaacs feels genuine.

It's hopeful, adventurous, reinvigorating, and touches upon loss and homelessness in a not all-consuming way.

Some of the scenes are just not right. Very disappointing. When you walk the path the sea should always be on the right. Also, the coastpath very rarely goes down to the seashore, not so in this movie. I also think they should have put more effort in getting the chronology right. Now it sometimes doesn't add up.

As the partner of someone with a severe neurological disability, this movie is a hilarious slap-in-the-face of a "Just walk it off!" that we could not help but laugh at. It doesn't get more literal. I'm sure my partner would if she could! Maybe she should follow suit and just stop taking her meds!

Half an hour in, we couldn't help but think in the cinema "Are we actually enjoying this?" At home, we would have switched it off. I was hoping for something closer to Into The Wild. This is not it. It does not "become" something half way through.

My partner's father walked this path for her for charity and he found the book equally tedious, whiny, and offensive to what the path can actually mean.

The painfully slow reveal of the movie's main driver never fully materialises, leaving you frustrated at the length of the movie.

The overexposed shots of the landscape soured the otherwise wonderful soundscapes, which are particularly good in the theatre. There - that's a star gained!

Overall, this is not the one!

I read this beautifully written book With all the sadness and ache that comes with reading a true story. ....... but it wasn't a true story. And that ,in itself, is is unforgivable. The author deceived us all. So , you are left with this fake, beautifully written book, that made it into a film.

The film is exquisite in so many areas, but lacks connectivity , actors and actresses are superb, .....

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.

There were only two films showing at my local cinema this weekend that I hadn't seen, and I was reasonably confident that "Karate Kid: Legends" might last to next weekend, where I have more time. So, I went to see "The Salt Path" where I had the increasingly rare occurrence for me, of being comfortably the youngest person in the room.

A middle-aged couple, Raynor (Gillian Anderson) and Moth (Jason Isaac) have their farmstead repossessed thanks to an investment that has gone badly. Devoid of anywhere to live, and with no livelihood, they decide to hike the trail around the South West Cost of Cornwall, camping in their tent overnight and living as frugally as they can. This is complicated further as Moth has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease that should, perhaps have already killed him. As they walk they come to realisations about people, life and each other - and when they need to be happy.

I have to say that the film hasn't inspired particularly strong emotions in me either way. I can see the merits. I think the performances are good from the central cast, particularly from Anderson. I think that the cinematography, highlighting some lovely aspects of the British coastline is also good. However, I'm very much an inside the house boy - the outside, nature, fresh air - are, in my experience, much better in theory than in practice. As it's based on a true story, it never quite hits the heights dramatically that I hoped it might. There are hints towards perhaps more interesting, or maybe important stories, such as how bad social housing provision is, or the plight of vulnerable women in the homeless communities.

At the time, I thought this was fine but I'm prepared to be that I will have forgotten the film entirely by the end of the year.

My Review - The Salt Path- in cinemas now My Rating 8/10

It may sound odd to compare the teaming of superb British actors Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson in The Salt Path to Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn in the classic 1951 movie The African Queen however that's the quality of their performances.

I'm not saying The Salt Path is the same calibre movie as The African Queen or that the subject matter is similar it's the rapport and chemistry of its two main characters.

The Salt Path is beautifully directed by Marianne Elliott with a screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. It's based on the 2018 memoir of the same name by Raynor Winn.

Gillian Anderson can play any role ranging from the Grand Duchess Joanna in The Great , a superb Margaret Thatcher in The Crown to DSU Stella Gibson in The Fall.

In The Salt Path she plays Raynor Winn married to Moth Winn who lose their home a farm in Staffordshire after being sued by a friend who they had guaranteed a business.

A week after being evicted from their farm and now homeless Moth is diagnosed with a rare incurable painful life threatening disease named corticobasal degeneration.

Then to top of the bitter taste of poverty they are told when they consult social security that there is a two-year waiting list for non-emergency housing.

What can they do ? When Raynor suggests they just walk Moth replies "oh well we've got nothing better to do " So they set off on a long and arduous 630 mile walk known as The South West Coast Path with a guide book by Paddy Dillon.

On the walk they come to terms with the shame of homelessless and the scorn of some people they meet. Others offer sympathy and assistance. As they walk, Moth slowly grows in strength.

There's a hilarious scene when Moth is mistaken for the poet laureate, Simon Armitage, who is also walking the path somewhere, and treated with humour when he denies it.

Moth's declining health starts to improve as their walk proceeds and the love and dedication of their relationship is obviously a great reason for that as they both face being stripped of every material asset and just rely on hope and faith in each other.

I found The Salt Path a very moving and interesting experience that's beautifully filmed by cinematographer Hélène Louvart.

A deeply moving and visually stunning film that tells the true story of resilience, love, and survival. Gillian Anderson delivers a powerful and emotionally grounded performance, capturing Raynor's strength and vulnerability with nuance and grace. Jason Isaacs is equally compelling, portraying Moth's physical decline with quiet dignity while also infusing the character with hope and warmth. What makes *The Salt Path* truly special is its portrayal of the healing power of nature and human connection. The cinematography beautifully captures the rugged beauty of the English coastline, making the journey feel immersive and almost meditative. This is not just a story of physical endurance, but one of emotional rebirth. By the end, viewers are left with a profound sense of hope, proving that even after immense loss, it is possible to find a new path - one that may lead to unexpected joy.

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.

This movie is very restrained, a touching look at a wife looking after her very ill husband and still finding time to be kind to strangers despite their own situation. Jason Isaacs is an actor I know for the elegant villainy of Lucius Malfoy, the hammy evil of Captain James Hook, the vocal menace of the Grand Inquisitor. Here, he's none of that. He's vulnerable. He has trouble walking. He quietly chuckles because if he didn't he'd break. And he loves his wife, played by Gillian Anderson, who also delivers a powerful and nuanced performance that radiates an effortless kindness. While Anderson could do no wrong here, Isaacs still managed to steal the show despite having such an impressive co-star. The reason I say this is because I've seen him in roles so drastically different from this one that it's amazing to know that this is the same man. A true actor by every interpretation of the word.

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.

In the light of expose by the British newspaper The Observer, everything about this film feels bitter. The author of the books changed the most important facts of their lives, for example the fact that they lost their home because she stole tens of thousands of pounds from her employer. The public, the book publisher and the film studio - we were all duped. Their former friends are not shy to talk about the way they were betrayed and even gaslit by someone who is now claiming "some things were changed for dramatic effect". Sure, but then - it is not a TRUE story. If you want to see a fictional film with good actors, then sure, have fun with this one.

This film will be liked best by viewers who are prepared to pay close attention to the script and appreciate low key drama.

It is a beautiful film, both visually and in its story. It is filmed along the South West Coastal Path which is full of dramatic views of cliffs, moorlands, seascapes and picturesque seaside towns. This makes for very appealing imagery.

The story is about a married couple, Moth and Raynor Wynn, whose farm is repossessed when Moth gets into a business arrangement with a friend that goes wrong. The "friend" makes him liable for the business debts, the farm is repossessed and the couple are made homeless. They decide to walk the coastal path because they have nowhere to go and because they think exercise and fresh air might reduce the symptoms of Moth's progressive illness. After such a turn of events most relationships could be expected to fall apart. But Moth and Raynor grow closer and it is heart warming to see how they back each other through the hardest time of their lives. Jason Isaacs and Gillian Anderson are perfectly cast in the lead roles.

The reason why the couple became homeless is told in a series of flashbacks which are little disjointed but they tell the viewer all they need to know. The main story is how the couple deal with their situation. It is also about the casual encounters they have with people along the way. Here the presentation is flawed because not enough is made of teh potential for drama or comedy in these encounters. This is especially so in the scenes where a group of people offer them hospitality because they are convinced Moth is the poet Simon Armitage. (Simon Armitage was himself walking the coastal path that year, stopping for poetry readings along the way.) If you've read the book the story might be disappointing because it doesn't show the couple completing their 630-mile walk. It ends halfway through when they have to stay with a friend for the winter when it becomes impractical to live outdoors. But at that point Moth has an idea that will get them enough money to live on.

I should add I have a different perspective on this story to most people because I have worked with homeless people and have lived and camped rough myself (from choice; I was once an itinerant farm worker.) I have seen some reviews from people who pass judgement on the couple's less than perfect survivalist skills. People who have always lived in a house and are thrown out of that environment don't have such skills. They take practice and planning. I took two decades to learn mine.

However, the film does little more than hint at the hardships of being homeless with only £40 a week to live on, and it doesn't show how homeless people are treated like lepers in British society. The story looks at the spiritual power and healing to be found in nature and the value of a true life partnership.