The Salt Path

[Mothership4two]

Anyone planning to go and watch this? And did you read the book? I am hoping to go in the next couple of weeks. There are four of us going, two have read it and two haven't. Looking forward to the scenery as much as the story.

I am curious to hear how others find the film. I get impression that it's being marketed as highly emotional and inspirational, which is not how I felt about the book & I don't think I could enjoy the film being like that. I did enjoy the book, on which... Winn writes factually but kind of "Can't believe we're in this situation but we have to make it work" way.

Hopefully I'll be proven wrong about it being over dramatic.

I really enjoyed the book. I went with a few friends and we all felt the movie was slow and just didn't capture the story that well. I'd still have wanted to see it though.

I hated the book, but I will go and see the film because I love the story.
Unfortunately I found the book badly written and self pitying. I have walked many sections of the SW Penninsular Coast Path, as it used to be called, and I am looking forward to the scenery. (Omg, I sound so old!).

I also found the book annoying. She just really got on my nerves and it was badly written. Also didn’t quite understand how they managed to lose their house. That said we are going to see the film for the scenery.

I loved the book, but didn't enjoy the film, it just didn't have the same emotion as the book portrayed.
Nor did I think Gillian Anderson was right for the role of Winn.

I do agree the scenery was beautiful !

Didn’t enjoy the book, but am planning on seeing the film- just out of interest really.

Same. I couldn’t relate to the characters and know they would have really annoyed me in real life.

I enjoyed the book but it was a marmite one at book club. I didn't find them self-pitying as they were going through an absolutely horrendous time. I assume the 'friend' used their farm as an asset in a business loan and so they lost it when his business went belly up owing debts and, from their sense of betrayal, I also assumed he did it intentionally possibly to protect his own home or assets? It's been a few years since I read it so the details are fuzzy

My 25 yo DS is thinking of coming due to the SW scenery @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads so you are down with the kids!

Saw the film, hadn’t read the book.

They annoyed me. Scenery wasn’t as good as seeing it in real life, not that I’m about to walk round the SW of England.

I hated the book. Felt bad about this as it’s obvious lay a shit situation they were in. But she came across as hard work and irritating, and it wasn’t well written.

Agree.

I really disliked that book, it seemed like a cynical attempt to monetise ill health and poor decision making. I won’t bother with the film.

I'm interested to know what people thought of the film - I've been trying to decide whether or not to see it for the past two or three weeks. It will be finished before I get around to deciding!

A good book by all accounts, but I found the film was incredibly dull. Some nice scenery, but pretty much no exploration of how the couple ended up in that situation and not really an ending either.

Then there are the kids who are seen in a flashback at the start but only mentioned in a phone call later; and a ‘friend’ who seems pretty horrible but again that’s never explored.

The film could’ve been more interesting if it had contained more on these aspects, rather than just a succession of mildly annoying (but not really dangerous) mishaps that are all in the trailer.

Also sadly I work with people who get a terminal diagnosis its pretty common their response to it was just odd. Camping is uncomfortable and hard core why the hell would you opt for that in poor health? Why did they not claim benefits? That’s what the welfare state is for. All this “I have 15p left” thing.

I think my book club thought I was a bitch for voicing the above though!

I hated the book, but I'm curious about the film.
I hated, A Little Life, but loved the play, so feel I should give it a chance.

I love the book so I’m definitely going to see the film, mainly because I love coastal walking so I’ll enjoy the scenery if nothing else!

Observing and walking in nature is a beautiful thing, doesn’t make you sound old!

I hated the book too! She wasn't just self-serving - it read like she was confabulating the whole way through - from the frankly bullshit story about the dodgy investment to the "we're not like typical homeless people" (who is??!) wide-eyed schtick. Pretty sure even Gillian Anderson couldn't save it for me and I'm annoyed that she's been sucked into thinking it's a worthwhile project.

I really enjoyed the book and gave it a solid 4/5 when I read it.

I really enjoyed the cinematography in the film and it was really nice to see ‘a grown up married people in love’ story. I don’t think I would have liked the film if I hadn’t read the book because it left out a lot.

Even when I was reading it and again when I was watching it - I couldn’t understand why they didn’t look for work either on a farm or a bit of cash in hand along the way…however I was not them.

I thought Gillian Anderson was great in the lead role. It was a gentle movie with and I saw it with friends and I enjoyed it overall.

I am glad others share my view of the book everyone else I know bar one friend think the book was great and it was implied I was an unsympathetic meanie!

Not sure why some posters are doubting that they lost their farm or how they lost it? If it wasn't true I am sure by now some journalist would have exposed them. Sounded (to me) like a friend stiffed them possibly asking them to invest in his business and then used their home as collaterol which went to his creditors went it went under. That was my take on it. And then they relied on the kindness of friends for somewhere to live but realised that their friends' patience was wearing thin so attempted the SWCP. I remember they did claim benefits of some kind - £40-50 a week? Can't remember if they had applied for housing. It's been a while since I read it.

I didn't mind her writing style bearing in mind she wasn't an experienced author when she wrote it.

I’m not doubting the truth of them losing the house I just can’t understand the circumstances of a couple of that age losing their house. Who on earth would risk their one asset and security into old age for a mates shonky business idea? It’s not rational and shows extremely poor judgement.