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6.6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Why Is the Sea Water Salty? remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school, hand-drawn fables that feel like they belong in a dusty library book, you’ll probably dig this. It’s short, punchy, and doesn't overstay its welcome. If you need high-octane drama or characters that actually grow as people, skip it. You will probably hate it if you get annoyed by predictable moral lessons.
The story kicks off when a poor guy finds a magic mortar. It basically acts like an infinite vending machine, but for whatever you want. Of course, the greedy brother shows up, steals the thing, and heads out to sea because apparently, he wants to be the world's most successful salt tycoon.
The animation style has that jerky, charming feel you see in older shorts. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Brownie's Busy Day, just with less mischief and more impending doom. The way the mortar just keeps churning out salt is genuinely funny in a dark way.
The brother's obsession is the best part of the whole thing. He’s so focused on getting rich that he forgets to ask the most important question: How do you turn it off? The boat sinking under the weight of a mountain of salt is such a specific, ridiculous image. It feels like a fever dream you’d have after eating too much popcorn.
It’s not as complex as Father John; or, The Ragpicker of Paris, but it doesn't need to be. Sometimes a story just needs to explain why the ocean is salty and leave it at that. I kept waiting for a giant monster to show up, but nope—just infinite salt.
It’s a neat little piece of history. Don't expect to have your life changed, but it’s a nice way to spend a few minutes if you're bored. Just don't go looking for a deep metaphor—it’s mostly just a guy being bad at his job and ruining his own commute.