In the Valley of Elah
2007 film by Paul Haggis / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the Valley of Elah is a 2007 American crime drama film written and directed by Paul Haggis. The film stars Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon. Its title refers to the Biblical valley where the battle between David and Goliath took place.
Quick Facts In the Valley of Elah, Directed by ...
In the Valley of Elah | |
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Directed by | Paul Haggis |
Screenplay by | Paul Haggis |
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Cinematography | Roger Deakins |
Edited by | Jo Francis |
Music by | Mark Isham |
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Running time | 121 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $23 million[1] |
Box office | $29.5 million[2] |
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The film is based on actual events, although the characters' names and locations have been changed. The screenplay was inspired by journalist Mark Boal's "Death and Dishonor", an article about the murder case published in Playboy magazine in 2004.
It portrays a military father's search for his son and, after his body is found, subsequent hunt for his son's killers. The film explores themes including the Iraq War, abuse of prisoners, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).