Sweet Salty Lao

The start of the day is serene at the salt mines of Laos, with still saltwater plains and villagers playing a variation on bocce. The wind stirs up plastic bags. A noisy truck with an empty trailer arrives, marking the start of the daily routine. From this moment on, the camera records the operations that result in a full truck at the end of the day, though the delightful footage is not all in chronological order. There is no commentary; we hear only the sometimes musical sound of humming machinery, streaming water, rhythmical hacking, sweeping, and shoveling. With long lurches, men and women sweep the salt from the large pools to form mounds. They transfer it from there to baskets to allow the water to seep out. The salt is then dried in a large mound before going into sacks, where it awaits further treatment and its final destination: small plastic bags. The quiet and repetitive actions lend the film an almost meditative character and provide the viewer with plenty of time to look around in the carefully framed shots. The camera does not disturb the seasoned workers who go about their work, which they do with such devotion and care, day in and day out. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)