THE SALT PATH

This is the true story of Gaynor and Moth Winn who walked the cliff-hugging trail from Somerset to Land’s End after Moth received a terminal diagnosis and bailiffs seized their home and everything in it. Living in a flimsy tent on a flimsy budget, they managed to survive a long summer before a renovation project gave them shelter through the winter. Gaynor took up sheep-shearing to boost their funds.

Gillian Anderson, shorn of make-up, gives a powerful raw performance as Gaynor, and Jason Isaacs is on equally fine form. With mostly hand-held cameras the film is fully immersive, making you feel as if you’re rambling in this glorious landscape/seascape with them through weather that is not always glorious.

Like previous road trip movies, this is full of the feel-good factor with moments of the feel-sad factor to break the mood. Anderson and Isaacs set out to milk every ounce of sympathy from you, and you are meant to emerge from this picture feeling that your life has been affirmed as well as theirs. I enjoyed all the ups and downs of the coastal hike.