In one sentence: The Salt Path follows a couple who, after losing their home, set out on a long coastal walk that becomes a test of resilience and endurance.

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Based on the bestselling book by Raynor Winn, The Salt Path is an interesting watch, particularly in light of the recent revelations surrounding the truthfulness of a story long presented as factual. The film raises an important question about cinema and storytelling: how true to life must something be to justify the label ‘based on a true story’?

Having read the recent articles and watched the documentary The Salt Path Scandal, it was difficult to fully separate what I had learned about the Winns and how they portrayed themselves and their experiences in both the book and the film. Still, I went in with an open mind. One stylistic choice that stood out immediately was the use of a black frame, creating a smaller image. At first, I wondered whether something had gone wrong with my television, but the effect soon proved intentional. When the couple finally reach a cliff top and the frame expands, it effectively captures the vastness of the landscape and their sense of freedom.

Despite the efforts of its two lead actors, the film ultimately feels twee and contrived. Jason Isaacs, playing Moth, and Gillian Anderson, portraying Raynor, give committed performances, but the material does not provide them with the emotional depth required for truly compelling or award-worthy roles. The supporting characters they encounter along the path feel thinly sketched and underdeveloped, which perhaps unintentionally mirrors the wider concerns now surrounding the authenticity of the story itself.

The most compelling element of the film is undoubtedly the British landscape. It is at once welcoming and unforgiving, unforgettable in its beauty. We are treated to sweeping fields, rugged coastlines and glimpses of wildlife, including rabbits, goats and a falcon that repeatedly appears as a symbolic guide. While visually striking, this motif is familiar territory in journey-based films, recalling works such as Rabbit-Proof Fence and here it feels more derivative than meaningful.

The film touches on homelessness, showing the mixed reactions the couple receive after losing their home due to a bad investment. While some characters display unpleasantness, others offer kindness, and Moth and Raynor are consistently portrayed as compassionate, even giving away money despite having very little themselves. Viewed in isolation, this presents a hopeful message about human decency, but in light of the investigative reports surrounding the real story, these moments could feel uncomfortable and, at times, inauthentic.

I tried hard to separate the art from the surrounding controversy, but ultimately found it impossible. I feel sympathy for the cast and crew, whose work will now inevitably be overshadowed by the scandal. Even without this context, however, The Salt Path struggles to inspire.

★★½ (2.5/5)