The Salt Path: A Celebration Of Love, Human Connection & Resilience

Moviegoers who enjoy watching wholesome films which contain relatable human-interest themes should be somewhat delighted with British biographical drama The Salt Path, directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and based on the memoir by Raynor Winn.

The story surrounds a middle-aged couple Moth and Raynor Winn, portrayed by Jason Issacs and Gillian Anderson respectively, who have lost their home and livelihood owing to bad investments choices and declare themselves homeless.

Moth is sadly diagnosed with a rare disease which will eventually affect his ability to walk and communicate, and medically it’s suggested that he seek ‘end of life guidance’ as he only has a maximum of six years to live. Unable to receive housing Raynor suggests, “Perhaps we should just walk a line on the coast.”

And so, with only the bare essentials in their backpacks, they embark on a 630-mile trek along the Southwest Coast Path which is the longest continuous path in England.

What follows is an entrancing film that takes audiences on a journey along the picturesque coasts along Somerset, Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

In the blistering heat and bitter coldness, the couple soldier on regardless of the difficulties and many challenges that await them.

Is this a miserable new existence or an alternate method of finding solace in nature? Audiences may be divided on this while witnessing their ups and downs, but what does resound profusely is their strength, positivity and resilience.

The back story is conveyed through evenly dispersed flashbacks which provide audiences with the relatable background context required for complete coherence.

Jason Issacs and Gillian Anderson have both enjoyed successful careers and justifiably deserve much praise for their portrayals of the Winns who adapt to a non-glamorous and downgraded lifestyle, in the process connecting with nature.

What could have been a depressing tearjerker actually has an emotionally uplifting effect on audiences owing to the mutual love the couple obviously share and the time-filler subplots which deal with the people they encounter on their journey.

This movie was predominantly filmed in the outdoors and the mesmerizing underwater and aerial cinematography capture the beauty of natural surrounds, which the Winns have come to temporarily accept as their home.

In the emotional closing scenes, the Winns both agree they wouldn’t have changed a thing. “The house wasn’t us – you’re my home” he tells his wife, which should have the more sensitive viewers reaching for a tissue.

The Salt Path is a celebration of the strength of love, human connection and resilience.

Audiences are left with the message that life can deliver adversity. But if there’s a strong will to move on it’s always possible to overcome all obstacles – how we deal with the unforeseen will predestine our future.

This is an exhilarating and life-affirming film suitable for all ages that must be seen on the big screen.

The Salt Path

****

In cinemas from May 15