Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea rob horning. Since a large number of people bought land in the region solely as an investment, the small. As narrated by legendary counterculture filmmaker john waters, there was time when the salton sea, tucked into the southeast corner of california was. 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. Come meet the friendly residents of californias newest environmental disaster.
But the pleasures portion of the title is an equally important factor in the films tone, which has room for both scientific inquiry and. The filmmakers have a good eye for the salton sea s grotesque ruins and bizarre denizens. Hunting down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the jeff springerdirected movie. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea interdisciplinary. May 18, 2010 plagues and pleasures on the salton seacovers the historical, economic, political, and environmental issues that face the sea, and it offers up an offbeat portrait of the eccentric and individualistic people who populate its shores.
The story of fishbonecodirected plagues and pleasures on the salton sea, an occasionally whimsical and deeply sad look at a. With sonny bono, john waters, norm niver, petre melvin. Nov 29, 2007 plagues and pleasures on the salton sea rob horning. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is a beautifully photographed depiction of a forgotten and deteriorating lake in california. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 moviefone.
Docuramas dvd of plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is presented in a colorful flat encoding. Local residents include salton sea activist norm niver and of course, the landman. It is an epic western tale of fantastic real estate ventures and failed boomtowns, innercity gangs fleeing to. Chris metzlerwho visited us last year with everyday sunshine. 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. Chris metzler, jeff springer director of the movie plagues and pleasures on the salton sea with cast sonny bono, john waters and norm niver. Parking lot of former salton sea beach marina by tuxyso cc by. Today, salton city is a virtually empty town of scattered lots, although it does offer a small market with attached mexican restaurant, volunteer fire station, church, and absolutely the best hamburger in the valley at super burger. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 stream. 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. The salton sea is a closed body of water, and the only way it leaves is through evaporation. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea poster 1 goldposter. Everything is weirder narrated by john waters ive been to the salton sea, but it was something like.
Were sorry but jwapp doesnt work properly without javascript enabled. Codirectors chris metzler and jeff springers plagues and pleasures on the salton sea is an account of how what was supposed to be calif. The documentary plagues and pleasures on the salton sea does not look or feel like a serious film about the environment. 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 louis proyect. John waters, sonny bono, friends of dean martinez, chris metzler, jeff springer. The water entering the salton sea picks up salts from the soils, and those salts have nowhere to go. John waters narrates this quirky documentary about southern californias salton sea, a manmade lake that was once considered a prime. Maybe it was john waters narration that had me wondering at what level this film would be exploiting the salton sea and its inhabitants.
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. Created by an ecological disaster in 1905, this once first class vacation resort is now a near abandoned wasteland. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea popmatters. They seem to be on one of the last american frontiers, where native optimism can still stubbornly face down an inhospitable. After a tragic incident, a man drifts into a world populated by thugs and speed junkies. Yearning to watch plagues and pleasures on the salton sea on your tv or mobile device at home. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Chris metzler, jeff springer director of the movie plagues and pleasures on the salton sea with cast sonny bono, john waters and norm niver chris metzler, jeff springer director of the movie plagues and pleasures on the salton sea with cast sonny bono. 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. 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 by chris metzler.
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. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea dvd 2007 new. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea 2004 plagues and. Watch plagues and pleasures on the salton sea movie online free download on. Plagues and pleasures on the salton sea documentary filmmakers chris metzler and jeff springer used ethnographic methods to record the. Pretty good documentary on the people living around the sea. Enjoy a rich lineup of tv shows and movies included with your prime membership. Once known as the california riviera, the salton sea is now considered one of americas worst ecological disasters.
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. At first plagues and pleasures on the salton sea had me feeling a little hesitant. See more ideas about salton sea, salton sea california and sea. They seem to be on one of the last american frontiers, where native optimism can still stubbornly face down an. This article is within the scope of wikiproject california, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the u. Its about the rise and fall of a place, a classic story.