The Salt Path (M) – 115 minutes

The odds are well and truly stacked against you, but you feel you have nothing more left to lose.

That was the situation that confronted married couple Raynor, 50 and 53-year-old Moth Winn in 2013.

They had just lost their family farm in Wales, which they had rebuilt and renovated themselves and raised their two children in.

A childhood friend of Moth’s convinced them to become involved in some financial investments that went south.

To make matters worse, the same week they lost their home after a three-year court battle, Moth was diagnosed with a rare, terminal condition.

Called corticobasal degeneration or CBD, those with it develop a range of difficulties with movement, speech, memory and swallowing.

The average life expectancy is around six to eight years from when their symptoms start.

Moth and his wife thought he had arthritis and were floored.

They sought council housing but were told that Moth was not sick enough and they would not qualify immediately.

When the bailiffs descended on their property, whilst hiding under the stairs, Ray spotted a copy of the South West Coast Path guidebook.

So, with nowhere to turn, they decided to walk, but I am not just talking about any walk.

With virtually no money and no assets, they set off from Minehead in Somerset to trek just over 1,000 kilometres through often rugged terrain to Lands End.

That is the equivalent distance of climbing Mount Everest three times and all they had with them was what they carried on their backs, including a tent.

At first, Moth, with an appreciable limp, really struggled, but something happened on that trip that was totally unexpected.

Due to the loss of Moth’s cognitive abilities, Ray kept a record of their journey in her guidebook to try and help him with his memory.

At the end of their trek, she gathered all her notes and gave them to Moth as a birthday present.

Her daughter then encouraged her to turn what she had written into a book, which Ray did.

The Salt Path sold more than a million copies worldwide and spent nearly two years on The Sunday Times bestseller list.

Now the book has been turned into a film.

Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and directed by Marianne Elliott, it deals with the highs and lows that constituted the Winns’ experience.

That includes some of the people they met along the way, complete with the sights, sounds and wildlife they encountered.

It showcases the challenges, of which there was no shortage, and the beauty.

It reveals a couple deeply in love and committed to one another.

A quirky element is that Moth, while on the journey of his life, was mistaken by some for English poet Simon Armitage.

Two mighty fine actors have recreated the pilgrimage to freedom. I speak of Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

Without pretence, they readily settle into their respective roles.

There is a rawness about their representations, which makes us – the audience – care … build a connection and root for them.

The Salt Path features some stunning cinematography by Hélène Louvart and an emotive soundtrack from Chris Roe.

This is a real story of tenacity and courage, of finding the way forward and beating the odds.

It deserves to resonate.

Rated M, it scores a 7½ out of 10.