''Happy Valley'' is a 2014 American

documentary film A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional film, motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". Bill Nichols (film critic), Bil ...

, written and directed by

Amir Bar-Lev Amir Bar-Lev (born 1972) is an American film director, producer and writer from Berkeley, California. Bar-Lev is noted for his work in directing documentary films. He has directed such films as ''Fighter'', a documentary film released August 24 ...

. The film had its world premiere at

2014 Sundance Film Festival The 2014 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 16, 2014 until January 26, 2014 in Park City, Utah, United States, with screenings in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance Resort in Utah. The festival opened with ''Whiplash'' directed by Da ...

on January 19, 2014. The film later screened at 2014

Sarasota Film Festival The Sarasota Film Festival is a film festival located in Sarasota, Florida and is held in April. Its mission is "to celebrate the art of filmmaking and the contribution of filmmakers by hosting an international film festival and developing year-lo ...

and won the jury award at the festival.

Synopsis

The film narrates

the event ''The Event'' (stylized as THE EVƎNT) is an American television series containing elements of science fiction, action/adventure and political allegory. It was created by Nick Wauters and aired on NBC from September 20, 2010 to May 23, 2011. ...

at The

Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

, when in November 2011 the former long-time defensive coordinator of school's football team,

Jerry Sandusky Gerald Arthur Sandusky (born January 26, 1944) is an American retired college football coach and convicted serial child molester. Sandusky served as an assistant coach for his entire career, mostly at Pennsylvania State University under Joe ...

, was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse, setting off a firestorm of accusations about who failed to protect the children.

Reception

''Happy Valley'' received positive reviews from critics.

Justin Chang Justin Choigee Chang (born January 3, 1983) is an American film critic and columnist for the ''Los Angeles Times''. He previously worked for ''Variety''. Early life Justin Chang graduated from the University of Southern California in 2004. Chan ...

of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' said in his review that "Amir Bar-Lev offers a typically gripping and thoughtful take on the Penn State scandal." John DeFore, in his review for ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'', praised the film, saying that "Amir Bar-Lev's ''Happy Valley'' is more concerned with the phenomenon of team spirit than any single question of fact or moral judgment." Eric Kohn Vaughan of ''

Indiewire IndieWire (sometimes stylized as indieWIRE or Indiewire) is a film industry and review website that was established in 1996. The site's focus was predominantly independent film, although its coverage has grown to "to include all aspects of Hollyw ...

'' graded the film with a B+ and said, "''Happy Valley'' turns the tables on the national perception of the scandal. Looking directly into the camera after the team has been banned by the league, one supporter shouts, 'Stop putting all the bad stuff on TV!' The words resonate for anyone who has followed the headlines from the past several years. Watching ''Happy Valley'', it's hard not to feel complicit in the university's weakened state."

Accolades

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Happy Valley 2014 films 2014 documentary films American documentary filmmakers Documentary films about child abuse Pennsylvania State University Penn State Nittany Lions football Films directed by Amir Bar-Lev Films produced by John Battsek 2010s English-language films English-language documentary films Documentary films about Pennsylvania

Synopsis

Reception

Accolades

See also

References

External links