Film review: ‘THE SALT PATH’, by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

The Salt Path is part of a slowly growing movie subgenre, the “redemption and self-discovery through a very long walk in the wilderness” film, think Wild with Reese Witherspoon and Australian film The Way, My Way with Bill Bennett. This style of film has some built in advantages as it comes with immediate personal drama, a self-improvement narrative and nice scenery. The dour, confronting but wonderfully acted The Salt Path, which is based on the best-selling book by Raynor Winn, combines the redemptive journey theme with the sobering reality of middle aged people suddenly facing homelessness and serious illness.

Raynor (Gillian Anderson) and Moth Winn (Jason Isaacs) have not had much luck of late. After losing their house following an apparently failed investment (that isn’t detailed in the film), Moth is diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Cortico Basal Degeneration or cbd. Unsure of where to turn, Winn and Moth decide to take time out and walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path which is also known as the Salt Path from Somerset to Lands-end.  While the walk itself would be challenging for most people, the fact that Moth is attempting it with a serious illness makes it a gruelling trek.

Not surprisingly, a film about two people down to their last dollar, battling debilitating illness and the elements is at times pretty grim and parts of this film are as raw as a Ken Loach drama or even Cormac McCArthy’s The Road.  The couple are constantly beset by obstacles and doubt about their ability to continue. While they encounter some wonderful compassionate people, including a few who comically mistake Moth for a famous poet, they also have to endure some absolute prats in their travels.

This film isn’t just wallow in misery, though, as the journey is also one of life-affirming self-discovery and a celebration of the freedom of setting off into the unknown.

Their trek also reveals the rugged beauty of the English south west coast landscape and during one magical sequence, life in the ocean.  Director Marianne Elliot captures some wonderful vistas of the shimmering seas, sprawling forests and the coastal wildlife.

Elliot has largely worked in theatre and presumably knows very well how to elicit the best from actors and that’s certainly the case here as both Anderson and Isaacs thoroughly inhabit their characters. De-glammed and often barely suppressing bitterness or even existential dread at their situation, they’re not always charming people but they feel real and few could fail to empathise with them.

With most of the film focused on the toughest part of Raynor and Moth’s struggle for survival, this film may prove a little too downbeat for some but for others it will prove inspiring.

Nick’s rating: ***1/2

Genre: Drama/ Adventure.

Classification: M.

Director(s): Marianne Elliot.

Release date: 15th May 2025.

Running time: 115 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

 

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