A Brilliant Conflict

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Blistering performances.

It seems appropriate as houses are falling in value all over due to sub-prime loans and speculation to look at another area that fell victim.The Salton Sea was formed by the Colorado River to create Imperial Valley. In the Fifties, it was a resort area with great Tilapia fishing, boating, swimming, skiing, etc. But two big storms in the Seventies flooded the are, and they have been plagued with other problems, and all the speculation is gone.Now, there is a community of very interesting individuals: a seventy-year-old man who stands completely naked by the highway, an artist who is creating some kind of holy mountain, lots of minorities that have escaped the dangers of LA, and older whites who have been there from the beginning.If you can stand a die off of 7 million fish or bird botulism, it really looks like a place to escape to. In any case, it is another unique part of American that most people have never heard of.

I first visited the Salton Sea on February 12, 2003. I was in Palm Springs on business. After my workday was done, I saw this big lake on the map not far from Palm Springs. I had never heard of and decided to check it out in person. Ever since that day, I've been drawn to it. The place is simply awesome.This movie is an excellent introduction to the Sea and those that inhabit it's shores. It showcases the stark beauty of the Sea, along with the quirky people who live there. I found it a very interesting tale, presented in a way that resonates with the average viewer. The movie is thought provoking in the way it shows the history of the sea and glimpses it's future.I found it to be an excellent representation of the place I have come to know and love. And it filled in a few blanks for me as well. The humorous take on some of the issues does not disappoint, and John Waters's narration adds appropriate, salient punctuation marks to the story.I would recommend for everyone who can -- go see this film. You will not be disappointed. And also go see the Sea... the film shows what is largely still the current status of the Sea, but parts of it have already changed significantly since the film was released. If you can, see the Sea before it changes for good. But even if you can't make it to the Sea, SEE THIS FILM. It's the best thing going for this place of strange beauty...

This is a great film that highlights the wonder and hart-break of the people that inhabit this great California dream-scape. In this film (narated by legendary film maker John Waters) the story unfolds in interviews by the people that inhabit this strange land, some raving about it's wonder, some panning this ecological disaster, but all of them true, on target and with the utmost sincerity. The film does not flinch away from controversy, and gives a balanced picture of the current population and activity of the area. Some of the interviews are truly funny while others are heartbreaking. Any attempt to explain what is really up at the Salton Sea would not be simple since there are people who really love it, and people that have been ruined and brought down by the lack of intervention in the decline of this ounce great "California Riviara" But the film seccedes beautifully in showing the Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea fro every angle. It is a brilliant documentary!!!!

Plaques and Pleasures on the Salton Sea screened at a festival I attended and I was so very grateful to have seen it. Often when we fatefully stumble across a film instead of having it sold to us, we connect with the piece on a level that is unique to a typical viewing experience. The disastrous and quirky story of the Salton Sea is told by means of historical documentation , as well as, through the reflections of the people who have lived it first hand. The story is approached from various angles, on different levels, and by means of many different formats. All of these elements enrich the experience, which is cherry topped with narration by John Waters, the embodiment of originality and independence. I highly recommend viewers experience life on the Salton Sea, a place that feels like being trapped on a desert island in the Twilight Zone.