SALT FOR SVANETIA (SOL SVANETII) (1930) B/W "silent" 53m dir: Mikhail Kalatozov

From Georges Sadoul's Dictionary of Films: "This documentary, originally based on [Sergei] Tretyakov's prewritten script about Svanetia, is as memorable as [Spanish director Luis] Bunuel's Land Without Bread ..... The people of Svanetia, an isolated valley, 6,000 feet up in the Caucasus, were then as backward as the people of Las Hurdes in Bunuel's film. They were totally cut off from the outside world except for a single mountain pass that was open only during the brief snowless period. [The official catalogue description characterizes life there as 'patriarchal, primitive; the struggle for existence among the snow-capped mountains entails such constant want and hunger, and particularly, the tormenting hunger for salt, that each new birth is regarded as a terrible curse, while death becomes a solemn feast.'] The hopeless life of the inhabitants is dominated by their need for salt, which they must carry on their backs across the mountains where, even in the middle of summer, snow still falls. Many of the images are Bunuelian: a woman, close to childbirth, driven from her house; a horse galloping until its heart bursts; the pagan offering of a slaughtered horse; a cow thirstily drinking human urine for its salt; a newborn torn apart by a dog; a widow dripping her milk onto the grave; money counted on a crucifix. The last part, urging the construction of a road to bring salt and civilization to Svanetia is unnecessary; as Harry Alan Potamkin put it 'the entire film cries that convincingly enough.'

"Mikhail Kalatozov had been trained as a cameraman and this was his second film as director. Its bold and striking images certainly reflect his background, but its editing is influenced by [Russian director Sergei] Eisenstein and its lyricism is reminiscent of [Russian director Aleksandr] Dovzenko. In some scenes one can detect the future director of The Cranes are Flying ....

"[Salt for Svanetia is almost unknown outside the Soviet Union and has received only limited screenings. The original negative was destroyed during the German invasion but copies still exist in the USSR.]"