Direction: Raven Jackson
Country: USA
Counting on Barry Jenkins, the director of Moonlight (2016) and If Beale Street Could Talk (2018), as a producer, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt marks the directorial debut of Raven Jackson, a poet and photographer from Tennessee. The film is a contemplative drama that serves as a memoir spanning 50 years, recounting the story of Mackenzie, a Black teenage girl who grapples with an unexpected pregnancy in Mississippi.
The film’s interesting premise deteriorates due to a sluggish pace, monotonous conception, and sparse dialogue. The floating structure and dreamy aura contribute to a sense of sadness, but they may hinder a deeper exploration of the elements at play, and the long shots and quietness dip the film in exasperation. It’s an overlong experience that tests the audience's patience while struggling to make a lasting emotional impact.
Even radiating intimacy at times, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt fails to validate a lasting claim on the heart. The narrative, relying heavily on images rather than words, could be told in ten minutes. As a result, there’s simply not enough here to really engage.
