Sundance: A24’s Very Hyped ‘All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt’
Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at 8:57PM 
A24 is known for taking leaps of faith on many of their projects. Their films aren't necessarily for everyone, but there’s something unique about most of them. That’s most definitely the case with All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, a drama that makes no effort to present its events in chronological order. In between any given screening at Sundance, all anyone is talking about is how incredible this film is. Whether or not future audiences have a similar response \will be dependent on their ability to appreciate its glacial pace and its unconventional approach to storytelling, one that reminds very much of Terrence Malick, which is not a light statement…
The central character of All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is Mack, a Black woman born in Mississippi. Audiences meet her at a number of points throughout her life, played by both Kaylee Nicole Johnson and Charleen McClure. As a child, she looks adoringly at her mother (Sheila Atim) as she shows her how to put up on lipstick. That relationship sticks with her, as does learning how to fish from her father. Her parents are not always warm but, as with anyone, they have a tremendous and lingering impact on their child.
One scene in particular defines much of this film, which finds an adult Mack standing with Wood (Reginald Helms Jr.). They start to hug, an uncomfortable action given the course of events we've seen. The hug lasts for what feels like hours but is surely only minutes – still a startlingly long time. It’s hard to stay focused in this scene, which doesn’t build to anything but instead just portrays an extended embrace. It’s indicative of a film that relies on its visual events to engage audiences and what little of the film's narrative does exist.
Comparisons to Malick aren’t entirely fitting since there are straight scenes of conversation that do occur without swooning music throughout this film. In that sense, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt isn’t quite as offbeat as it’s nonlinear storytelling might suggest. But there has to be a way in, and this film doesn’t readily provide one. Everyone raving about it at Sundance was evidently able to locate a starting point, which is not an easy feat. There is one grand, ethereal scene that could have served to link the entire film together, filling in any gaps in story coherence with a swirl of emotion. Sadly it’s not placed at the very end. Showing events out of order feels dizzying and disjointed rather than momentous and all-encompassing. Filmmaker Raven Jackson clearly has an impressive vision, but the style and presentation will astonish some and alienate others. C+
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt is screening in the U.S. Dramatic Competition and will be released by A24 later this year. Image courtesy of Sundance Institute.
Reader Comments (2)
I was excited for this now not so much.
Yes, now that you said it - I do think that Terrence Malick comparison is on point... even though maybe not 1:1... but I got the same kind of feeling from this film.
I found it incredibly boring. Total waste of (at least) my time.
Sooooooo slow.
But those who like dreamy films, that are like a flow of life and if they can't get to see beautiful rich colors and nature anywhere else - they maybe get something out of it.