Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea

I just viewed this documentary and loved it. The film is a perfect balance of humor and substance. At times, it screens more like a comedy flick than documentary. Regardless, you quickly become engrossed with the inhabitants of Salton Sea; a relatively obscure area located in southeastern California.

I suggest this film for anyone who loves evocative films that showcase humanity at both it's best and worst. A truly genuine study in socio-economics, politics, environmental affairs, hope and despair.

I know that this film has a market outside of the "art" theatre and film fest circuit. It is quirky at times but will certainly leave a lasting impression on you.

A nice little documentary about one of the saddest of California dreams gone sour, the man-made (originally by using diverted Colorado River water) but now largely land-locked Salton Sea, in the desert northeast of San Diego. At its peak in the 1950s, the Sea beckoned thousands to buy lots, throw up vacation homes or trailers, or simply show up for weekends of fishing and partying. Since then, however, there's been a steady downhill spiral. In prior winters marked by heavy rains, the water level rose, flooding out some developed areas. In more recent years, the water level has gradually been receding.

Artificially introduced fish species go through cycles of over- and under-population. High water temperatures, declining oxygenation and resultant fish die-offs breed algae, which reoxygenate the waters and start the next cycle. Now there are only a few old timers left around, folks without the means to escape, to buy a home elsewhere. A handful of economically marginal younger families have moved in, attracted by cheap housing. The waterfront generally looks deplorable. The last remaining eatery of any consequence just closed.

The filmmakers spent over 3½ years shooting this movie. Besides learning the history, they got to know the remaining residents well and were accepted and trusted. It shows in the relaxed candor of people's comments. Trouble is, most of these people are rather dull, so it's hard to sustain much interest in what they have to say. The most intriguing thing about the Sea is contemplating its future. While he was alive, Congressman Sonny Bono, who represented the area, tried to attract federal resources to rejuvenate the Sea. Since his skiing death, that effort has gone astray.

The environmental issues are troubling. The Sea is shrinking in volume partially because of the recent diversion of inflow to nearby populated areas that in fact want even more water from this source. If the Sea is allowed to dry up, this will remove the last major marshy area available in southern California for migratory birds, who pass through by the millions each year. Moreover, alkali dust storms from a dry seabed could blow north to affect the ecology of Palm Springs. Sustaining the Sea in a manner that can control its high salinity and wildly variable fish and algae cycles will take resources that so far seem unlikely to materialize.

These environmental issues are only touched upon lightly in the version of the film I saw. Afterward, I spoke with co-director Chris Metzler, who was present for this screening (at the Idaho International Film Festival). He told me he has a longer version of the film that does explore these issues in greater depth. The challenge, he says, lies is balancing the interests of different target audiences: i.e., environmentalists versus people just curious about a funky place versus those with nostalgic ties to the Salton Sea (one such family, who regularly vacationed there in the 50s and 60s, was present at this screening).

Metzler says he has had trouble with distribution and even festival acceptances because reviewers think the film is too narrowly focused on a quirky, one-of-a-kind place. That's too bad. The Salton Sea story is really emblematic of many, many others all over the country where technology and dreams (and, often enough, greed as well) have trumped good sense (think of all the absurdly located developments along the Gulf Coast in the wake of Katrina, or the idiotic houses that schuss down the hillsides whenever it rains in L.A.). The film's website is: www.saltonseadoc.com. My overall rating: 7/10 ("B"). (Film seen on 10/01/05.) If you'd like to read more of my reviews, send me a message for directions to my websites.

I've watched the Salton Sea doc twice. I enjoyed it on several different levels. It was an eerie and exceptional sociological document. It illuminated a quirky, interesting and little known part of California history. And it was timely as far as the decline (and the 'fashion') of support for environmental issues. The film resonated with me for several days after viewing. That's more than I can say for most. This is a unique and interesting film. A strange testament to the highs and lows of development, and the fighting fringey independent spirit of desert culture - it enhanced my perspective on the people of the region. It's well worth watching.

Plagues & Pleasures is a top-notch social documentary with a cast of characters (and I mean characters) that will certainly keep movie-goers amused and engaged. But there is a substantial historical component to the film that hipper fans of historical docs will be drawn to, too. The Salton Sea itself was created by man by mistake, and evolved -- indeed, continues to evolve -- unlike any other conventional place. In fact, I could not help but think that this movie was recording the progress of some twisted, super-sized laboratory experiment that used real people, instead of mice. Trust me, this all makes for fascinating history. I highly recommend this film.

Another example of how you just can't make this stuff up. Salton Sea provides fascinating insights into characters we don't get to interact with on a daily - or even lifetime - basis. Their struggles for a peaceful, healthy, rewarding lifestyle may mirror many others, but their circumstances are truly unique.

Living on an environmentally-challenged site that witnessed large-scale natural and unnatural alterations requires an unusual perspective. And that perspective is captured quite well in this film. Not something we're treated to on "extreme makeover" reality TV.

Plus, how can you not love the John Waters narration?