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Happy Valley

  • 20142014
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Happy Valley (2014)
Trailer for Happy Valley
Play trailer1:57
2 Videos
8 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Drama
  • Sport

A documentary that observes the year after Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's arrest on child sex abuse charges.A documentary that observes the year after Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's arrest on child sex abuse charges.A documentary that observes the year after Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky's arrest on child sex abuse charges.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Amir Bar-Lev
  • Writer
    • Amir Bar-Lev
  • Stars
    • Joe Paterno(archive footage)
    • Jay Paterno
    • Andrew Shubin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Amir Bar-Lev
  • Writer
    • Amir Bar-Lev
  • Stars
    • Joe Paterno(archive footage)
    • Jay Paterno
    • Andrew Shubin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos2

    Happy Valley
    Trailer 1:57
    Happy Valley
    Happy Valley - Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:57
    Happy Valley - Official Trailer

    Photos8

    Happy Valley (2014)
    Happy Valley (2014)
    Happy Valley (2014)
    Happy Valley (2014)
    Amir Bar-Lev in Happy Valley (2014)
    Happy Valley (2014)
    Happy Valley (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Paterno
    Joe Paterno
    • Self - Football Coach, Penn State Universityas Self - Football Coach, Penn State University
    • (archive footage)
    Jay Paterno
    • Self - Joe Paterno's Sonas Self - Joe Paterno's Son
    Andrew Shubin
    • Self - Local Attorneyas Self - Local Attorney
    Jerry Sandusky
    • Self - Former Football Coachas Self - Former Football Coach
    • (archive footage)
    Matt Sandusky
    • Self - Jerry Sandusky's Adopted Sonas Self - Jerry Sandusky's Adopted Son
    Joe Posnanski
    • Self - Joe Paterno's Biographeras Self - Joe Paterno's Biographer
    Scott Paterno
    • Self - Joe Paterno's Sonas Self - Joe Paterno's Son
    Sue Paterno
    • Self - Joe Paterno's Wifeas Self - Joe Paterno's Wife
    Tyler Estright
    • Self - Penn State Class of 2013as Self - Penn State Class of 2013
    Pat Little
    • Self - Local Photographeras Self - Local Photographer
    Matt Jordan
    • Self - Film Professor, Penn State Universityas Self - Film Professor, Penn State University
    Dorothy Sandusky
    • Self - Jerry Sandusky's Wifeas Self - Jerry Sandusky's Wife
    • (archive footage)
    Michael Pilato
    • Self - Mural Artistas Self - Mural Artist
    Mark Emmert
    • Self - NCAA Presidentas Self - NCAA President
    • (archive footage)
    Lou Prato
    • Self - Local Historianas Self - Local Historian
    James T. Clemente
    • Self - Former FBI Agent and Profileras Self - Former FBI Agent and Profiler
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Amir Bar-Lev
    • Writer
      • Amir Bar-Lev
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The town of State College, the home of Penn State University, has long been known as Happy Valley, and its iconic figure for more than 40 years was Joe Paterno, the head coach of the school's storied football team. His program was lauded for not only its success on the field but also its students' achievements in the classroom. And Paterno took on mythic national stature as "Saint Joe." But then, in November 2011, everything came crashing down. Longtime Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse, setting off a firestorm of accusations about who failed to protect the children of Happy Valley. Was Sandusky's abuse an "open secret" in the town? Did Coach Paterno and the Penn State administration value their football program more than the lives of Sandusky's victims? Filmed over the course of the year after Sandusky's arrest as key players in the scandal agreed to share their stories, Happy Valley deconstructs the story we think we know to uncover a much more complicated and tragic tale. —Sundance Film Festival
    • child
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The story behind the Penn-State scandal
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Quotes

      Self - Football Coach, Penn State University: Beacon of integrity is kinda scary.

    • Connections
      Featured in Cameraperson (2016)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    The Power of Myth and the Man Who Couldn't Live Up To It
    Disclaimer: I have always had an appreciation for the Penn State football program. My mother was a Penn State fan (not an alumnus though), and she would always say that Joe Paterno represented class, while almost in the same breath denounce the legendary coach of my favorite college team, Barry Switzer as being anything but. Even though I am a loyal Sooners fan (though not an alumnus of OU, simply having been born in Oklahoma), I could appreciate what JoePa and Penn State stood for.

    I couldn't help but think of that as I watched this documentary. In his lifetime Joe Paterno went from being a mere man into being a mythical one. It was one legend right after another, and I don't believe it matters who you are, if left unchecked, a person can buy into their own hype. I believe that happened with Joe Paterno, and it has left an impression on a program, a university, and a community struggling to make sense of it all. The whole truth may never fully be known.

    From watching this I got the sense that Joe Paterno genuinely wanted to do the right thing. Having however the myth of "St. Joe", I believe he hindered himself from doing more because he couldn't believe a monster had gotten so close to him, and he couldn't live with what that would do to his perception. His son seemed to confirm as much as he stated both his parents were very well read, but naive about many other things surrounding them. Joe was too wrapped up in his own myth.

    This documentary goes to great lengths to show how others have bought into the myth as well, and their support is as blind for him as it is deep. On the one hand they'll acknowledge what was done to the kids Jerry Sandusky was supposed to be helping was terrible. Just as quickly though they will try to absolve Paterno of any wrongdoing, saying he reported what he knew. In other words, the bare minimum. For a man that had built a reputation of going above and beyond the bare minimum, this seems to me, unacceptable. Yet they don't see it.

    However, the lasting impression I got from watching this, and honestly I believe this was the point of the documentary, was that there is no prototypical child abuser, and that it is possible to dupe many into thinking one thing about you when something else may be the reality. That's a sobering thought for anyone.

    The line that sums up this documentary for me though is quote "You should never build statues for guys who are still alive." True character is revealed when nobody else is looking. We may think we know someone, even if only by reputation. That reputation however may be little more than a house of cards ready to fall. In the end, regardless of what Joe Paterno knew or didn't know, what he reported or didn't report, the carefully crafted myth has come crashing down.
    helpful•4
    5
    • christopher-cole83
    • Jun 20, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 2014 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Χαρούμενη κοιλάδα
    • Production companies
      • A&E IndieFilms
      • Asylum Entertainment
      • Passion Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,868
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,047
      • Nov 23, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,868
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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