The principal cast, flanked by the film's co-directors and producer,
on stage at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Grand Theatre
Close up shot of Louisa So and Anthony Wong Chau-sang
- Sen Lam and Antonio Tam (who also wrote the script), co-directors
- Starring: Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Louisa So, George Au
- Part of the HKIFF's Gala Presentations program
When a terrible wrong has been inflicted on you or your loved ones, will you be able to forgive the individual(s) who have traumatized you, at least try to do so, or will you vow to "Never forgive, never forget"? This question lies at the heart of Valley of the Shadow of Death, a psychological drama that revolves around a pious Christian pastor (portrayed by Anthony Wong Chau-sang), his wife (played by Louisa So) and the young man (essayed by George Au) who raped their daughter (portrayed by Sheena Chan).
In the opening scene of the film, Pastor Leung is seen at the deathbed of an elderly woman whose grandson is a prisoner, brought to the hospital in chains by prison guards. After his release from prison, the young man becomes a street sleeper, who cross paths again with Pastor Leung when a charitable female staffer at the pastor's church recognises him as the grandson of a deceased member of their congregation and offers him shelter and a place to sleep at the church.
Unbeknownst to the staffer and the young man himself, Pastor Leung had recognised him -- who goes by Ah Lok -- as the rapist of his daughter, who subsequently committed suicide -- something that the priest and his nurse wife have by no means gotten over. But the man of God doesn't reveal this to Ah Lok, who appears to admire the pastor, wants to learn from him, and aspires to become a fully fledged of Pastor Leung's congregation.
Imagine the horror, then, of Ah Lok when he discovers that Pastor Leung is the father of the angelic looking schoolmate that he appears to have genuinely been infatuated by before things went very badly wrong. Yet he continues to seek the unsmiling priest's help to do such as interpret the Bible and seek forgiveness from God along with that of Pastor Leung and his wife, and willingly endure trials that Pastor Leung tasks him with -- at least one of which is so extreme that one wonders whether the priest is genuinely guiding and helping the supplicant, or torturing him.
At the same time, Ah Lok's very presence in his church and life appears to torture Pastor Leung as he finds himself wrestling with strong feelings that come from being an upset father and charitable priest. With a face and body language that expresses so much silently, Anthony Wong Chau-sang puts in a strong performance that anchors Valley of the Shadow of Death. And as his wife who, in contrast, is unwavering in her stance throughout, Louisa So is no less impressive in very powerfully communicating her character's anguish and bitterness.
With the viewers' sympathies being expected to be more with the parents of a young woman who was raped, then killed herself, than the rapist, great credit must go to George Au for getting the film's viewers to not hate -- or, at the very least, not be revulsed by -- his character. Conversely, Sheena Chan showed her acting prowess by convincingly playing a character more complex than might be expected, including given that her time on screen is on the limited side.
All in all, Valley of the Shadow of Death's strongest suit is its cast. For without their very watchable performances, my sense is that this pretty heavy and dark drama would have been in grave danger of being way over the top, and the viewers being far less likely to go with the flow and, instead, question certain plot twists and details.
My rating for the film: 7.0