Happy Valley

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Happy Valley

2014

1h 38m

Documentary

Drama

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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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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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David Lewis

San Francisco Chronicle

12/04/2014

3/4

It's not a groundbreaking thesis, but we still get a fascinating tour of a town that may never be the same again.

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Michael Phillips

Chicago Tribune

11/27/2014

3.5/4

The film could've benefited from another 15 or 20 minutes of detail and nuance. What's there, though, is strong, thoughtful and disturbing.

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David Edelstein

New York Magazine/Vulture

11/21/2014

Here it is, folks, in your face. Will you look or return to your own private Happy Valley?

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Bob Strauss

Los Angeles Daily News

02/03/2015

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.

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Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

12/31/2014

... manages to craft a mostly even-handed examination of hero worship, football fanaticism and the power of conviction in the court of public opinion.

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Shawn Hazelett

Under the Radar

12/16/2014

6/10

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.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 07/08/2025

Real footage in 1 hour and 38 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $22,700.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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03/11/2017

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.

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09/04/2016

**** 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.

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08/14/2016

Interesting take on the whole situation. There are no winners.

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04/25/2016

This will always be a cloud that hangs over State College.

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03/08/2016

Informative, but not very interesting. People go too far when looking for blame.

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Amir Bar-Lev

Director

Joe Posnanski

Actor

Amir Bar-Lev

Writer

Molly Thompson

Executive Producer

Robert DeBitetto

Executive Producer

David McKillop

Executive Producer

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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: Passion Pictures, Asylum Entertainment, A&E IndieFilms
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