The Valley Below

The Valley Below is a resonating and quiet film helmed by the talented director Kyle Thomas in the year 2014. It is a Canadian independent drama that beautifully converges the lives of four individuals in the small town of Drumheller, Alberta, setter of the movie. With phenomenal performances by Stephen Bogaert, Alejandro Rae, Kris Demeanor, and others, the movie paints a profound depiction of life in a small Canadian town where the Badlands landscape plays a serene yet silent character, almost surreal in presence.

The Valley Below is a multi-narrative feature, a storytelling style that focuses on multiple characters and parallel storylines. This technique highlights the interconnectedness among individuals who share the same environment while exploring their separate journeys. The town almost becomes a character itself, its looming presence having a tangible effect on the film's inhabitants, shifting and shaping their lives with its harsh, ceaseless beauty.

Stephen Bogaert portrays Warren Cavanagh, a determined father who hides a sense of guilt and confusion beneath his stern exterior. His life and struggles significantly affect his daughter Kate Millington, played by the highly talented Mical Dyck. Their tumultuous relationship forms one of the key narrative threads of the movie.

Alejandro Rae plays Gordon Munn, a local radio DJ whose passion for music often leads him to clash with his seemingly mundane responsibility of running the radio station. His life narrative is thought-provoking, working as a stark presentation of the emotional disorientation that can occur when personal passions conflict with the reality of making a living.

Kris Demeanor brilliantly manifests the character of a musician Henry Cordon. His character is compelled to confront the challenges of fatherhood when his casual romantic fling with a local bartender results in an unexpected pregnancy. Trapped in the whirlpool of unexpected responsibilities and a struggling music career, Henry's narrative talks about the everyday battles faced by ordinary individuals.

The fourth narrative highlights the character of Gordon Munn, who is forced to ponder his life's priorities in the wake of a serious health issue. His delicate, intense portrayal communicates volumes about life's unpredictability and the human endeavor always to prioritize happiness.

The Valley Below is striking in its simplicity. It unveils the tensions, conflicts, and dilemmas that mark the lives of ordinary people living in small towns — the endless struggle between personal hopes and harsh realities, the constant pursuit of happiness against all odds, and the undercurrents of decision-making in the labyrinth of these crossroads. The movie serves as a mirror, reflecting dissimilar facets of human existence in an unforgiving landscape.

Instead of focusing on high-intensity drama or action-packed events, the film emphasizes more on the nuanced realities of human life. It does so through the ordinary behavior, casual conversation, and subtle emotions of the characters. The experience is like viewing the mountain through the fog, where the overall landscape is blurred, yet the standout features leave a memorable impression.

The film uses a beautiful canvas of colors, lights, and sound to permeate the depth of the narrative into every frame. The cinematography is mesmerizing, utilizing creative and inventive shooting methods to depict the raw, rustic beauty of the Drumheller town. It captures the characteristic Canadian Badlands: barren, sparse, rugged, yet unnervingly beautiful. Its authenticity is enhancing the depth, resonance, and realism of the story.

Music in The Valley Below plays an irreplaceable role. It is a lighthouse guiding the narrative and serving as a crucial emotional component. Canadian musicians, such as Rae Spoon, Eamon McGrath, and several others, contribute original musical scores. The songs are woven seamlessly into the fabric of the film, England in a sense, they are the unspoken thoughts and silent tears of its protagonists.

The Valley Below is an excellent mix of character-driven drama, poetic storytelling, and a philosophical interpretation of life. It's a celebration of people's resilience and inner strength amidst life’s trials along with an empathic portrayal of their vulnerabilities and frailties. The movie is a beautiful piece of cinema that explores the human experience, our struggles, our joys, our dreams, and our compromises, all against the enchanting backdrop of small-town Alberta. The Valley Below is a testament to the fact that sometimes, the profoundest truths of life are found in the simplest of narratives.