WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
A dual directing effort, courtesy of Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders, brings this amazing, potent, and deeply moving documentary to life in covering the 40-year (and counting) career of Brazilian social photographer Sebastiao Salgado and the stories he has brought to light about the human condition via the breathtaking photographs he’s taken, representing some of the biggest events that have shaped so many areas of the world. Traveling to almost every continent on the planet, Salgado’s camera has captured images invariably heart-wrenching on different levels, deftly depicting times of war, hardships, labor, and the harsh realities of the existence of man. From his first forays documenting the mass labor forces in the gold mines of his home country of Brazil, to the burning oil fields of Iraq after the first Gulf War, to the famine-ridden and civil war-riddled barrenness of Africa, Salgado’s lens becomes a spotlight on the fluidity of humanity’s constantly evolving face on Earth and often the atrocities brought on each other through deprivation, departure, and strife. But as more recent times have come, Salgado chose to focus on more of this amazing planet’s beauty, through showcasing the abundance of indomitable landscapes and flourishing wildlife we have been given to enjoy and revel at. From the strange wonders of the Galapagos to hidden jungle tribes in the Amazon, Salgado’s photographs now present a much more pristine canvas on which life itself has become the paint. In view of this majesty, we truly are, the salt of the earth.
With a well conceived and executed combination of narration from both Wim Wenders and Salgado himself, “The Salt of the Earth” carries such an incredible weight to its message as it conducts its intricate study of the state of humanity, as well as the absolute brilliance of nature around us. Through the various projects Salgado has put together in book form over these last forty years, the potency and realities portrayed in his pictures cannot be witnessed without being moved in heart and spirit. The reality of life exhibited in them, the intensity of purpose in the choosing of what exact moments to catch, added to the initially saddened soul expressed by Salgado as to the condition of the human race, is simply overwhelming when one takes in the gravity of the images. So, admittedly, it was refreshing when Salgado chooses to turn away from the social photography and immerse himself in nature and its immaculate beauty, which brings a much needed, calmer atmosphere to the planet we call home. Through this photographic pilgrimage, Salgado engages the mind, sobers the spirit, tantalizes the soul, and seizes the spirit with utmost efficiency, and to have the opportunity to observe and spectate our world through his eyes via this film absolutely feels like a rare privilege and highly personal glimpse into the very being of a humble man from Brazil who simply desired to bring our vast sphere into perspective in a way all of us can relate to.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
