The Salt of the Earth

Sebastião Salgado's photography is a already enough to justify a big-screen experience; the human truth found in his work is so deftly composed that it's impossible for even an unexperienced appreciator of the medium not to notice. On top of this, Wenders and Salgado's son provide compelling essayistic commentary to abet what is mostly a montage of Salgado's work through the decades. It's a memorable film experience familiar to fans of Wenders' nonfiction, subtly impactful and full of life.

This is not a critical documentary; it is meant to inspire, by showing us a life lived on its own terms. Salgado's photography is equally awe-inspiring - surreal places and grim tableaus drawn in light and shadow. Nevertheless I was left with some ethical questions that the movie refused to answer or even engage. Not that I suspected Salgado - a humanist if there ever was one - of impure motivations; but even good men have to make morally ambiguous decisions in situations like these.

Stunning imagery that captures the extremities of life on earth. Salgado's passion for capturing those highs and lows is intoxicating. I only wish I had a better theater experience to fully absorb it.

Sebastião Salgado: "We are a ferocious animal. We humans are terrible animals. Our history is a history of wars. It's an endless story, a tale of madness."

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12.21 Sarıgül

Salgado's work is stark and visually striking and it's worth watching this film just to see it. The opening photograph of hundreds and hundreds of men working under harsh conditions in a gold mine is worth watching the whole film for. But Salgado also has incredible stories to tell and Wenders coaxes them all out. It's both depressing and inspiring.

I was lucky enough to see some of Salgado's photos live and they are incredible. Seeing some back story and more of them explained by the man himself was a treat. Just like the fantastic score which brought the black and white shots to life. If you have any interest in photography, you must watch this.

Curb Your Misanthropy, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Natural World

Amazing! This is not just a acclaimed photographer Sebastião Salgado's story. This is also a story about the late 20th century of humankind; a brief history of violence and hope. This is one of the masterpieces that brings people closer to catching the essence of life; inspiring!

This documentary mostly rests on the photos by Salgado, which I love. Beyond that, there are only a few points of human interest, especially when chronicling Salgado's early life and when talking to his father. The later trips as well as the forest project get more screen time than they should have.

It's fine, but it terribly lacks substance. Forgettable except for the beautiful photographies.

Salgado and his family are amazing role models, I am in awe of what they achieved with the replanting project. I was not familiar with his work, but what he has done definitely merits a documentary. As usual Wenders still, the documentary is low-key but impressive and impactful. Salgado's pictures are in general otherworldly, particularly the ones in the mines are mind-boggling. also, his level of courage is unreal; 99% of lives would look plae compared to his.

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eng; [das salz der erde; the salt of the earth]; ein dokumentarfilm und biographie über einen berühmten photografen aus brasilien, welcher die menschen und die natur portraitiert.;

A fascinating account of a life documenting the best and worst of mankind. Beautifully paced and put together.

An elegant dance between two beautiful dinosaurs of the photographic art form. And a light shone on the mythical figure of Salgado, at times simple and complex, magical.

Salt of the earth indeed. And a fantastic chronicler of the world and its inhabitants, through images of immense depth and poignancy. This film is engaging, beautifully shot and features an evocative score by Laurent Petitgand. A top tier documentary if ever there was one.

Mein Beruf ist der des Videothekars. Ich sehe mir die Kunstwerke anderer an und geniesse sie. Meine liebste Filme empfehle ich den Kunden, auf dass sie genauso begeistert reagieren! Wim Wenders hat denselben Job, indem er uns den Fotografen Sebastiao Salgado nahe bringt... die ganze Rezension sowie die interessantesten Dokus über Fotografie auf cinegeek.de

Just another doc about people who Wim digs. Well, I don't really dig Salgado's black and white -- and too vivid -- aesthetics of poverty.

This film is asking all the essential questions and what is even better - it has all the right answers. It will open your eyes, it will touch your soul, it will leave you breathless. So much talent and honesty in one place. An absolute beauty from Salgado and Wenders.

I wish it would have focused more on photography and recounting the stories behind the photographs, than on Salgado's personal life. It tries to strike a balance between the two but it feels a bit unfocused even though both are interesting and have a lot of merit.

A beautiful movie about a very impressive person.

breathtakingly wonderful and moving in every way. so beautifully shot, so personal yet expansive. so simple yet significant. a real filmic experience. it was truly baffling to go through sebastio salgado's life journey and truly understand what it means to live in this planet. salgado was truly the most interesting subject anyone could have filmed, and wenders did a fantastic job capturing his essence and his story in a way that was cathartic and authentic without being sentimental.