The Salt Path (2024) Dir: Marianne Elliott
- Ridley Coote
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
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This understated British independent drama, based on the memoir of Raynor Winn, who ended up co-producing the film, caught my eye mainly because my mother had read the aforementioned book that it was adapted from. It marked the directorial feature film debut of Marianne Elliott, and had received fairly good, if not overly eye-catching, critique. I myself was interested in seeing how everything would play out - after all, a film essentially about walking does not necessarily excite most people's interests.
I was the youngest at my showing by quite a distance, but I didn't mind it in the slightest, in fairness. I was more concerned about the sweeping, picturesque landscapes of the South West Coast unfolding before my eyes. The majority of the cinematography was stunning, despite its simplicity. The use of drone footage was very judicious. Unfortunately, the night scenes were far too dark. Deliberately or not, it was just impossible to see anything.
The story, as those who have read the book will know, was incredibly touching and heartwarming. It worked well because it had a core focus to it that was intensely relatable; making the most of life when life itself seems to be against you. There's a distinct sense of hope in that, which is so universal. The film was, perhaps, a little too long, ans suffered with some slight pacing issues, but it was still quite watchable, and kept me engaged near-enough the whole way through.
The performances from both of the key actors in the film were one of its biggest strengths. Gillian Anderson's leading portrayal of the author and protagonist of the book, from which this film takes inspiration, was wonderfully grounded and sincere. She felt true to the spirit of her character, and had clear chemistry with her co-star. Speaking of whom, Jason Isaacs provided his own believable and pleasant performance in the other main role of the film. His acting had to be a lot more physically driven than Anderson's because of who he was playing, and I thought he did that wonderfully.
Overall, despite a couple of issues, this was still a fairly enjoyable story of resilience, love, and hope. I don't think it would be for everyone, and perhaps its target audience is fairly niche, but I also feel that, for those who do give the film a chance, they will be pleasantly surprised by how much they like the film. In any case, I found it pretty easy to appreciate, both visually and thematically.
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