Drama,History,Thriller,Crime,Mystery
United States of America
In the Valley of Elah is a 2007 psychological thriller directed and written by Paul Haggis, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon.
The story revolves around retired career officer Hank Deerfield (Jones), who learns that his son Mike (Jonathan Tucker) has gone missing after returning from a tour of duty in Iraq. Hank takes matters into his own hands and travels to the army base where his son was stationed to investigate. He enlists the help of local police detective Emily Sanders (Theron) to navigate the military bureaucracy and piece together clues about his son's disappearance.
As they delve deeper into the case, Hank and Emily uncover a dark side to the military's handling of soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They discover that Mike had witnessed and participated in heinous acts of violence while overseas and was struggling to cope with his guilt.
The film's title is derived from the biblical story of David and Goliath, with "Elah" referring to the valley where the two warriors clashed. Like David, Hank takes on the powerful military establishment to find justice for his son.
In the Valley of Elah is a powerful drama that addresses themes such as war, PTSD, and the toll that military service can take on individuals and their families. It was well-received by critics and earned Jones an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
