November 29, 2007 fabulously offbeat and refreshingly upbeat, this lovable film gets friendly with the natives of the salton sea, an inland ocean of massive fish kills, rotting resorts, and 120 degree nights located. Renowned cult film director john waters narrates this quirky exploration of the salton sea, the massive southern california lake that was created by accident a century ago, became a popular desert resort and has since developed into a refuge for a community of oddballs. One audio commentary offers the filmmakers selfevaluation and a second track pairs two of the salton sea locals, norm niver and steve horvitz. The filmmakers have a good eye for the salton sea s grotesque ruins and bizarre denizens. This documentary reveals the troubled history of salton sea, which was once the site of a wonderful resort in the california desert, but soon turned into a fetid, largely abandoned area. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea rob horning. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 plagues. With sonny bono, john waters, norm niver, petre melvin.
The actual sea, which is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide and was created by accident in californias imperial valley by a diversion of the colorado river, briefly flourished as a resort area from the 50s to the 70s until massive flooding and the seas. But you dont ever hear about the salton sea, do ya. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea metacritic. Pleasures on the salton sea captures a place far more interesting than the shopping malls and parking lots of suburban america, a wacky world where a beerswilling hungarian revolutionary, a geriatric nudist, and a religious zealot building a monument to god all find solace and community. Salton sea beach, california, a settlement on the sea s shores. Wikiproject film rated startclass this article is within the scope of wikiproject film. Narrated by john waters, plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is an odd bird wacky and poignant, funny and sobering, but this portrait of a forgotten paradise is a mustsee. I loved the quirkly narration waters provided as this documentary revealed the creation, the marketing hype of the salton sea and its sad surrealistic present day condition. Plagues and pleasures of the salton sea can best be described as an inconvenient truth with a stronger sense of humor, a keen sense of the cost of neglect and with a cast of characters whod make. John waters, sonny bono, friends of dean martinez, chris metzler. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea penetrates the sadness and inertia of the local residents who still try to make their livelihood in and around this monumental manmade blemish, which was once a gem. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is a beautifully photographed depiction of a forgotten and deteriorating lake in california.
Renowned cult film director john waters narrates this quirky exploration of the salton sea, the massive southern california lake that was created by. Yearning to watch plagues and pleasures on the salton sea on your tv or mobile device at home. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea poster 1 goldposter. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea, a film about. Rent the salton sea 2002 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. And its because, unfortunately, the plagues outweigh the pleasures at the salton sea. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 plagues and.
Plagues and pleasures is a thoroughly engrossing account, both humorous and. Filmmakers chris metzler and jeff springer let salton residents break it down in this charming, yet sad documentary. Rent the salton sea 2002 starring val kilmer and vincent donofrio on dvd and bluray. The movie presents a tremendous amount of historical information about the coming of the sea but. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 moviefone. It is an epic western tale of fantastic real estate ventures and failed boomtowns, innercity gangs fleeing to. Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Once known as the california riviera, the salton sea is now considered one of americas worst ecological disasters. Salton sea state recreation area, a state park located on the northeastern side of the sea.
Sep 08, 2007 plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is a new documentary on an infamous body of water in southern california that forces us to think deeply about the environmental contradictions of capitalist society. They seem to be on one of the last american frontiers, where native optimism can still stubbornly face down an. The actual sea, which is 35 miles long and 15 miles wide and was created by accident in californias imperial valley by a diversion of the colorado river, briefly flourished as a resort area from the 50s to the 70s until massive flooding and the sea s. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea by chris metzler. But the pleasures portion of the title is an equally important factor in the films tone, which has room for both scientific inquiry and. Additionally, it is a glimpse into the lives of the quirky population that chooses to live on the shores of this looming ecological. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea explores the economic, political and environmental issues that face the salton sea, a onetime vacation destination for the rich and famous now occupied. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 stream.
As narrated by legendary counterculture filmmaker john waters, there was time when the salton sea, tucked into the southeast corner of california was known as the riviera of the west, a haven for. Fabulously offbeat and refreshingly upbeat, this lovable film gets friendly with the natives of the salton sea. At first plagues and pleasures on the salton sea had me feeling a little hesitant. Please select ok if you would like to proceed with this request anyway. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea popmatters. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is a new documentary on an infamous body of water in southern california that forces us to think deeply about the environmental contradictions of capitalist society. Feb 04, 2014 renowned cult film director john waters narrates this quirky exploration of the salton sea, the massive southern california lake that was created by accident a century ago, became a popular desert. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea louis proyect. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea offers an offbeat portrait of the people who populate the shores of the once california riviera, which is now considered one of americas worst ecological. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Created by an ecological disaster in 1905, this once first class vacation resort is now a near abandoned wasteland.
Maybe it was john waters narration that had me wondering at what level this film would be exploiting the salton sea and its inhabitants. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea documentary filmmakers chris metzler and jeff springer used ethnographic methods to record the. John waters narrates offbeat documentary on an environmental. Since a large number of people bought land in the region solely as an investment, the small. And while john waters narration and friends of dean martinezs soundtrack allow for impressive credits on the dvd cover, neither participant adds much. Once known as the california riviera, the salton sea is now called one of americas worst ecological disasters. Hunting down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the jeff springerdirected movie. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea box office mojo. Chris metzlerwho visited us last year with everyday sunshine.
If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists. The story of fishbonecodirected plagues and pleasures on the salton sea, an occasionally whimsical and deeply sad look at a. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea dvd, 2007 for. Docuramas dvd of plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is presented in a colorful flat encoding. The documentary plagues and pleasures on the salton sea does not look or feel like a serious film about the environment. Renowned cult film director john waters narrates this quirky exploration of the salton sea, the massive southern california lake that was created by accident a. Rhetorical references notes human communication therefore is a symbolic action because we draw upon language and other symbols to construct a framework for understanding and valuing and to bring the wider world to others attention.