Watch Salero

Salero is a documentary film that follows the story of Moises Chambi Yucra, a salt gatherer who lives and works with his family in the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia's largest salt flat. The movie explores Moises’ way of life and the impact that the modernization of the salt industry is having on him and his community. The movie opens with an overview of the Salar de Uyuni, a stunning landscape that attracts many tourists. The camera then moves to Moises, who is shown gathering salt in the traditional way, with his hands and a simple wooden tool. We learn that Moises' father and grandfather were also salt gatherers and that this activity has been the main source of income for their family for generations.

The filmmakers then introduce us to the new salt industry, which is mechanized and dominates the market. The huge trucks and heavy machinery used by the companies that extract salt from the Salar stand in stark contrast to Moises' humble tools. The viewer can sense the remoteness of Moises' family and his way of life.

The movie does not overtly take sides between the traditional and modern ways of gathering salt but patiently examines the aftermath of modernization. Throughout the film, we see the struggle for survival of a family like Moises' in the midst of an industry that threatens to leave them behind. We also see the environmental impact of the new industry, such as when a lake disappears due to the excessive pumping of water by the new mining companies.

The movie provides a remarkable insight into a world that is both stunning and fragile. On one hand, the picturesque landscape is just breathtaking. There is something mesmerizing about the salt flats and the scenes that take place there. However, the movie also poses critical concerns about the consequences of human actions on our natural environment.

One of the movie's significant strengths is that it tells the story entirely from the perspective of the salt gatherers, and isn't about the consequences of their way of life being destroyed. The film primarily aims to show their everyday routines and their day-to-day struggles in competing with modern salt mining companies.

It's a moving film that paints a slow, deliberate picture of life in Salar de Uyuni. Therefore, while some might find the pace of the movie slow, it's clear that the filmmaking style no doubt reflects the rhythms and textures of the salt gatherers and their environment. The score, composed by Adam Bryanbaum Wiltzie, is a perfect match for the film, thus elevating it to a much higher level.

In conclusion, Salero is a film that records the vulnerability of the natural environment and the traditional people, who have a symbiotic and harmonious relationship with their land. With stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, the movie offers a rare glimpse into the life of a Bolivian salt gatherer at a time where rapid industrialization is threatening their traditional way of life. Without a doubt, it is a thought-provoking and insightful film that cannot easily be forgotten.

Salero is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes.