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The Valley (Obscured by Clouds) ()

La vallée (original title)
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Consul's wife, Viviane took part in an expedition to New Guinea. She falls in love with Gaetan, the leader of a group of explorers, whose objective is to reach a mysterious valley.
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Cast

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...
Viviane
...
Gaëtan
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Olivier
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Hermine
Monique Giraudy ...
Monique
Jérôme Beauvarlet ...
Yann
Bob Mac Kay
Charles Ivano
The Mapuga Tribe and its Chiefs ...
Themselves

Directed by

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Barbet Schroeder

Written by

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Barbet Schroeder ... (screenplay)
 
Barbet Schroeder ... (dialogue) &
Paul Gégauff ... (dialogue)
 
Paul Gégauff ... (adaptation)
 
Barbet Schroeder ... (adaptation)

Produced by

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Gérard Beytout ... co-producer
Tom Binns ... associate producer
Michel Chanderli ... executive producer
Mike Kaplan ... producer (uncredited)
René Pignières ... co-producer
Barbet Schroeder ... producer
Stéphane Tchalgadjieff ... executive producer

Music by

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David Gilmour ... (as Pink Floyd)
Nick Mason ... (as Pink Floyd)
Pink Floyd
Roger Waters ... (as Pink Floyd)
Richard Wright ... (as Pink Floyd)

Cinematography by

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Néstor Almendros

Editing by

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Denise de Casabianca

Editorial Department

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Joëlle Barjolin ... trainee editor
Françoise Thévenot ... assistant editor

Sound Department

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Michel Laurent ... boom operator
Jean-Pierre Ruh ... sound

Camera and Electrical Department

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Emmanuel Machuel ... camera operator

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Special Effects

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Viviane, a French Consul's wife, is in New Guinea to find exotic feathers for export to Paris. She encounters four European travelers who are en route to "La Vallée": The Valley, high in the Guinean mountains, is shown on maps as 'Obscured by Clouds' and is beyond their previous experiences. Viviane joins their trek to find rare feathers and soon becomes entwined in their journey. Their extended stay with the Mapuga tribe brings a denouement between western and indigenous values before their final quest toward the 'Valley of the Gods'. Written by Neal Wells

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Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • The Valley (World-wide, English title)
  • The Valley (Obscured by Clouds) (United States)
  • The Valley (Obscured by Clouds) (United Kingdom)
  • El valle (Spain)
  • O Vale dos Perdidos (Brazil)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 101 min
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Did You Know?

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Trivia The soundtrack to this film was released as a Pink Floyd album. Due to a spat with the film company after filming was complete, the Floyd decided not to mention the planned film title, "La Vallee," in the album's title and instead chose to call the release "Obscured By Clouds," echoing a line of dialogue from the film. In response, "Obscured By Clouds" was added as a subtitle so it could gain from Pink Floyd's popularity. This turned out to be a good move as Pink Floyd would soon gain even more fame with the release of "Dark Side of the Moon" just a few months later. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Hell of the Living Dead (1980). See more »
Soundtracks Obscured By Clouds See more »
Quotes Viviane: Olivier, isn't it wonderful... We've become so close to them. We're practically like them. Look at Gaetan and Hermine... it's great! I'm happy. We've found truth, you know.
[kisses his shoulder, but he looks sad]
Viviane: What's wrong, Olivier?
Olivier: It's just the opposite.
Viviane: What's the opposite?
Olivier: We're lying. Whatever Gaetan says, we're tourists here.
Viviane: What do you mean, "tourists"? I don't get it, what's that supposed to mean?
[angry]
Viviane: It's disgusting, hearing you talk like that, you've spent months here with Gaetan, and that's all... You don't understand. What are you, stupid?
Olivier: Dancing's easy. Could you work with them?
Viviane: Yes, absolutely!
Olivier: Women are even more exploited here.
[Viviane starts to think]
Olivier: You know, Viviane, among the Kombugas society is bound by very strict rules.
Viviane: Same with ours.
Olivier: It's not the same thing... We're trying to break ours. When they dance, it's not just for the pleasure of it, it's to obey something. Look, this is the cemetery, they're dancing on their dead. We seek after pleasure, and maybe peace. They couldn't care less about that.
Viviane: I don't know, Olivier, but look at this festival. Everyone's happy together. Why do we all understand, without words... like real friends? Why the understanding, why is it so simple here, eh?
Olivier: It's O.K. But that doesn't mean much.
Viviane: You really disappoint me. You're just like my husband.
Olivier: Sure, we all like each other, but it doesn't go any farther. How can you expect real rapports between us, who tear down our social restrictions, and them, who live in terror and... and respect for taboos?
Viviane: I don't know, but it's possible. We're finding something else, that's all. Don't you believe in mysterious forces?
Olivier: Oh, sure, very much. But not in their way. For us, that's impossible. One can't forget one's past, Viviane. It's not possible to undo your conditioning. Once it's lost, innocence can't be found again. Paradise is a place with many exits, but no entrance... There's no way back from knowledge... When you fall from grace, that's it. I wonder, to find it again, whether we shouldn't do just the opposite of what we've done... If we shouldn't take another bite out of the apple.
[Viviane walks away]
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