In The Valley of Elah

Paul Haggis
USA
2007

Soldier, if my son was back I would sure as hell know about it.

124", 35mm
Color, English

about the film

Oscar-winning Crash director Paul Haggis unites star actors Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon in this compelling and timely tale of an exemplary US soldier, Mike Deerfield, who has mysteriously disappeared while on a mission in Iraq. Mike’s father Hank, an honored war veteran himself, is stunned by a strange phone call announcing his son’s disappearance. He hires special detective Emily Sanders to further investigate the mysterious matter. When Mike’s mother Joan joins the investigation, the story takes a different turn. Bit by bit, Hank and Emily start to lose control of the process. Based on the case of Specialist Richard R. Davis, who, after returning from Iraq, was found dead of multiple stab wounds four summers ago, In the Valley of Elah is an eloquent and moving exploration of the sociological and psychological effects of the Iraq war on contemporary America.

about the director

Paul Haggis was born in Ontario in 1954. He has been writing, producing and directing television series such as Thirtysomething and EZ Streets since the 1970s. His screenwriting credits include Million Dollar Baby (2004), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, The Last Kiss (2006), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Casino Royale (2006) and Letters from Iwo Jima (2006). His directorial debut, Crash (2004), which he also wrote and produced, won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. In the Valley of Elah is his second feature as a director.

awards

2007 Toronto Film Festival
Venice Film Festival

screenings

February 23 Saturday, 9:30 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

credits

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