Eden Valley (1995)

Set in the harness racing fraternity, this feature drama explores the conflict between urban and rural values and the relationship between an estranged father and son.

Directors:

Amber Production Team, Richard Grassick

Writer:

Amber Production Team

Stars:

Brian Hogg, Darren Bell, Mike Elliot

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brian Hogg	...	Hoggy
Darren Bell	...	Billy Hogg
Mike Elliot	...	Danker
Jimmy Killeen	...	Probation Officer
Wayne Buck	...	Young Lad
Kevin Buck	...	Young Lad
John Middleton	...	Townie
Charlie Hardwick	...	Townie
Katja Roberts	...	Townie
Mo Harrold	...	Mother
Art Davies	...	Boyfriend
Bill Speed	...	Auctioneer
Amber Styles	...	Woman in Underpass
Rose Laidler
Brian Laidler

Storyline

The film is set within a harness racing fraternity and explores the conflict between urban and rural values through the medium of an evolving relationship between father and son. The main character in the film, Hoggy, abandoned his wife and son ten years earlier to establish himself in an alternative lifestyle, living in a caravan and caring for his horses. The world gets turned upside down by the arrival of his teenage son, who has a prison sentence hanging over him. Billy has lived his life on an inner-city housing estate, and in his lifestyle theft and drugs are the norm. Using dramatic seasonal changes within the horse-trainer's environment we follow the development of this fragile relationship. Both father's and son's value systems are tested, with dramatic consequences. The roots of the film lie in the making of Seacoal, which was released in 1985. The film, depicted the lives of seacoalers on the Northumberland coast, and introduced members of Amber to a passion for horses, and...

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site Page from Amber Filmography

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 1995 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Durham, County Durham, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amber

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Familiar story, but nicely done

Sort of Ken Loach meets an after-school special – though far better than that sounds.

A somewhat cliché plot - young man in trouble is given one last chance, sent to live with his estranged, poor father who raises horses, and grows up in the process.

So the story is a bit old hat, even boring and slow at moments, but the details and performances are hyper real and subtle, and very rich. And it's all aided by subtle, quietly beautiful photography. In the end the familiarity of the general is outweighed by the freshness of the specifics.