The Salt of the Earth, documentary directed by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, is highlighted on Disney+ on June 16, 2026. Awarded the César for Best Documentary and nominated for the Oscars, the film traces the life of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, a towering figure in contemporary photojournalism.
The Salt of the Earth
Documentary film | 2014
In theaters: October 15, 2014
Streaming on Disney+: June 16, 2026
Biopic, documentary | Runtime: 1h50
Directed by Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Starring Sebastião Salgado, Wim Wenders, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Original title: The Salt of the Earth
Nationality: France, Brazil, Italy
For more than four decades, Sebastião Salgado has roamed the globe to document the major shifts reshaping humanity and the environment. From international conflicts to migratory waves, from famines to still-pristine landscapes, the photographer has dedicated his work to bearing witness to the human condition as much as to celebrating the beauty of life.
Through the intertwined perspectives of his son Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, who joined him on several journeys, and filmmaker Wim Wenders, himself a photography enthusiast, The Salt of the Earth revisits the career and the commitments of the Brazilian photographer. The film blends archival material, commented photographs, and footage shot during the Genesis project expeditions, which highlight the planet’s still-pristine regions.
The documentary was shown at the Cannes Film Festival 2014, where it earned a special mention from the François Chalais Prize. It also won the César Award for Best Documentary in 2015 and took the Audience Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Wim Wenders says he had long admired Sebastião Salgado’s work before joining the project started with his son Juliano. The German filmmaker and photographer shares with Salgado the same fascination with documentary imagery and the stories tied to places and people.
The film's title nods to a verse in the Gospel of Matthew: "You are the salt of the earth." This quotation frames a meditation on humanity, memory, and transmission.
The documentary should appeal to photography lovers, fans of issue-driven documentaries, and narratives focused on the era’s great witnesses. Through the images of Sebastião Salgado, the film questions both the upheavals of the modern world and the capacity of nature and human societies to rebuild themselves.
To go further, also check out our pick of Disney+ June 2026 releases, our guide to streaming releases across all platforms, and today’s streaming pick: What to watch today on streaming.
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