If you are ever feeling too crowded out by city life, or even rural life, just take a journey to Lake Eyre in the very remote corners of South Australia. The film Salt documents the annual trek of one man to this part of the world.
These alien-like landscapes would make a great backdrop for any sci-fi film, but might just drive the cast and crew crazy in their isolation. However, that’s just the kind of crazy that attracts photographer Murray Fredericks, who takes an annual trip to the area. It’s a vacation from his life and family in Sydney, but it seems more a journey to the center of his soul.
This documentary is minimalist by necessity: All you really need is the visual to understand the incredible beauty that inspires Fredericks. The film includes some of his gorgeous photos, time-lapse sequences, and video diary excerpts.
Salt refers to the actual substance of salt, which is everywhere, including in the equipment. The weather is also an obstacle facing anyone making a journey to this beautiful, flat surface. But wow, the payoff seems worth it. The views are grand, including of the star-filled sky above.
PBS Distribution recently released this award-winning documentary, Salt, on DVD and Blu-ray. See www.shopPBS.org.
The film has received a number of prestigious awards including the 2009 “Distinguished Documentary Short of the Year” from the International Documentary Association; the 2009 “Special Jury Mention” at the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary; the 2009 “Best Short Documentary” at the Film Critic’s Circle Australia; and the 2009 “Best Short Film” at the Melbourne International Film Festival, among many others.
As the promotional material for the film states: “Fredericks looks into the abyss and finds that, in the midst of nothingness, there is everything.”