2005 Film Index Back to Main Site		Back Plagues and Pleasures of the Salton Sea USA / 86 minutes Directed by Chris Metzler and Jeff Springer Narrated by John Waters Music by Friends Of Dean Martinez Once known as the "Riviera of the West", the Salton Sea is one of America's worst ecological disasters: a fetid, stagnant, salty lake, coughing up dead fish and birds by the thousands. Yet a few hardy eccentrics hang on to hope, including a roadside nudist waving at passing European tourists, a man building a religious mountain out of mud and paint, beer-loving Hungarian Revolutionary Hunky Daddy, and the real-estate "Ronald McDonald," known simply as The Landman, who wants to return the sea to its 1950's glory. Through the perceptions and misperceptions, the strange history and unexpected beauty of the Salton Sea is revealed. Already a hit at festivals across the USA, this unconventional and often humorous film is blessed with narration provided by none other than counterculture filmmaker, John Waters (Hairspray, Cry Baby). www.saltonseadoc.com