The Salt of the Earth

In his Oscar‑nominated documentary, Wenders captures the raw humanity at the heart of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado’s work.

Late Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado travelled the globe for over 40 years, bearing witness to some of the major events of our recent history. His stark black‑and‑white photography captures humanity at its most desperate and profane. Chronicling major wars, famines and human exoduses, the impact of what he has seen over the years has weighed heavily on his soul – not to mention the toll it took on his family, particularly his son, who would not see his father for long periods of time. In his later life, Salgado turned his camera on the natural world, capturing nature’s immense beauty and offering him an opportunity to heal and restore his faith in humanity.

Curator’s note
Wim Wenders’ profound documentary about a man who has despairingly turned his back on the world, only to find a path back through nature, is a beautiful testament to Wenders’ generosity in giving over his films to the artists and art he depicts. We see this in Pina (2011), his immersive 3D portrait of German choreographer Pina Bausch, and the ageing Cuban musicians at the heart of his joyous documentary Buena Vista Social Club (1999). In The Salt of the Earth, Wenders hands over co‑directing duties to Salgado’s son, who follows his father on his latest photographic journey. Wenders steps back here, becoming more of an observer to the father–son bonding that quietly unfolds, while allowing Salgado’s powerful photos to speak for themselves.