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Happy Valley

Play trailer Poster for Happy Valley Released Nov 19, 2014 1h 38m Documentary Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
89% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State College, Pa.
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Happy Valley

Happy Valley

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Critics Consensus

Sober, even-handed, and quietly devastating, Happy Valley illuminates the wreckage of a tragedy while leaving viewers room to draw their own conclusions.

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Critics Reviews

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David Lewis San Francisco Chronicle It's not a groundbreaking thesis, but we still get a fascinating tour of a town that may never be the same again. Rated: 3/4 Dec 4, 2014 Full Review Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune The film could've benefited from another 15 or 20 minutes of detail and nuance. What's there, though, is strong, thoughtful and disturbing. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 27, 2014 Full Review David Edelstein New York Magazine/Vulture Here it is, folks, in your face. Will you look or return to your own private Happy Valley? Nov 21, 2014 Full Review Bob Strauss Los Angeles Daily News Bar-Lev's cameras prowl the streets of State College, Penn. to not only expose the details of the crimes, but uncover a hero-worshiping, sometimes ferociously self-justifying, culture. Feb 3, 2015 Full Review Todd Jorgenson Cinemalogue ... manages to craft a mostly even-handed examination of hero worship, football fanaticism and the power of conviction in the court of public opinion. Dec 31, 2014 Full Review Shawn Hazelett Under the Radar Happy Valley ... is less interested in assigning blame than using the scandal as a template to explore mob mentality and the perils of idol worship. Rated: 6/10 Dec 16, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member not bad. was actually expecting a deeper insight into Sandusky's background to be honest. instead it focuses mostly on the whole Joe Paterno - Penn State Univ. fiasco. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member **** Good Jerry Sandusky's unspeakable acts sent shockwaves in the Penn State campus. Jerry Sandusky is no longer part of society, and that is a very good thing, because his disgusting acts preyed upon young children is as horrific as it gets. Amir Bar-Lev's documentary "Happy Valley" focuses on how the Sandusky crimes impacted the Penn State campus and its "happy valley" society. Sandusky was a former Penn State football assistant coach who opened up a camp for disadvantaged children. Penn State society thought the world of Jerry, which included his boss the infamous Joe Paterno. Then when Sandusky's child molestation charges came into the limelight- a whirlwind of controversy, divisiveness, and shame soon followed to the campus and its city. Paterno was in the middle of the controversy as he was a central figure blamed for not reporting when he was aware of Sandusky's acts. By no means "Happy Valley" is an easy watch, but an important watch no doubt on how one man's despicable acts could have profound impact on first the victims, but also on an entire society; Bar-Lev excels in bringing that to the forefront. "Happy Valley" will in no means make you happy, but it is recommended for its societal focus at how one man's crime impacts an entire community & university. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Interesting take on the whole situation. There are no winners. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member This will always be a cloud that hangs over State College. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Informative, but not very interesting. People go too far when looking for blame. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Well shot, beautifully put together, and most of all emotionally investing (especially for sports fans), Happy Valley brilliantly demonstrates the destruction of Jerry Sandusky and the heartwrenching end to football legend Joe Paterno. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Happy Valley

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 2011, longtime Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is charged with multiple counts of child sex abuse, rocking the small town of State College, Pa.
Director
Amir Bar-Lev
Producer
Jonathan Koch, Steven Michaels, John Battsek, Ken Dornstein
Screenwriter
Amir Bar-Lev
Distributor
Music Box Films
Production Co
Asylum Entertainment, A&E IndieFilms, Passion Pictures
Genre
Documentary, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 19, 2014, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 7, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$22.7K
Runtime
1h 38m
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