In the Valley of Elah is a 2007 film written and directed by Paul Haggis, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, and Susan Sarandon. The film’s title refers to the Biblical valley where the battle between David and Goliath is said to have taken place. Paul Haggis's In The Valley of Elah is based on actual events, although the characters' names and locations have been changed. The screenplay was inspired by journalist Mark Boal's "Death and Dishonor," an article about the murder case published in Playboy magazine in 2004. It portrays a military father's search for his son and, after... finding his body, subsequent hunt for his son's killers. The film explores themes including the Iraq war, abuse of prisoners, and post-traumatic stress disorder following active combat. The film tells the story of war veteran Hank Deerfield , his wife Joan and their search for their son Mike . A soldier recently returned from Iraq, Mike has suddenly gone missing. Deerfield's investigation is aided by a police detective , who becomes personally involved in the case. They find Mike's body, mutilated and burned.
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| Release date: | September 1, 2007 |
| Directed by: | Paul Haggis |
| Rated: |  |
| Runtime: | 120 Minutes |
| Producer: | Paul Haggis, Darlene Caamano Loquet, Patrick Wachsberger, Steve Samuels, Laurence Becsey |
| Editor: | Jo Francis |
| Music by: | Mark Isham |
| Cinematography: | Roger Deakins |
| Screenplay by: | Paul Haggis |
| Estimated budget: | $23,000,000 |
| Genre: | Thriller |