I went into this movie, The Salt Path, not knowing it was based on a true story. However, there is some controversy surrounding the book on which the film is based. Apparently not all aspects of the story told in the book by Raynor Winn are true. I cannot judge whether this is true since I have not read the book nor have I immersed myself in the details of the lives of Raynor and her husband Moth Winn. What I can say is that I found the film to be exceedingly moving and heartfelt, mostly due to the performances by Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. Raynor's book about their 630 mile hiking trek along the southwest coast of England (called the South West Coast Path Home - South West Coast Path) following the loss of their home and Moth's diagnosis with a terminal neurological illness is a portrait of perseverance and love in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
Gillian Anderson's and Jason Isaacs' performances are just excellent--understated yet filled with a lot of emotion. They may not say much to each other as they hike along the coast, but they say so much to each other in so many other ways. I found myself thinking about what a long marriage does to you and how it changes you. You learn to read another person via their facial expressions, moods, emotions and silences. You don't have to have long deep conversations to convey an honest message. A nod or the touch of a hand or a hug speaks volumes. That is what came across for me in this movie. Their lives together, their marriage, were about perseverance. Near to the end, Moth says to Raynor that he wants to be cremated when he dies, and he makes a suggestion to her about when she dies that will make you cry, not just because it is sad, but because it expresses his desire for them to be free and together for all eternity. He wants them to soar free like the bird that they have been observing on their long hike. I could intuitively understand his desire not to be encumbered by material things; that in the end, what mattered was the two of them and that they loved each other. Their love is the legacy that they will leave behind.
We lead such ordinary lives, most of us. We are not destined for great things, but if we manage to love our spouses and our families, if we manage to persevere in the face of tribulations, we leave the world a better place. That matters. Life is a challenge, love also. Perseverance is the key to dealing with life's hardships. It helps to have the support of a spouse and/or friends when life seems bleak. It helps.
