
VALLEY OF THE GODS
Dolina Bogów
VALLEY OF THE GODS
sci-fi, fantasy, drama I 2020 I Poland
SATURDAY 7/11/2020 7:00pm
Original Title: Dolina Bogów
Duration: 126 min
Language: English
Director: Lech Majewski
Writer: Lech Majewski
Cast: Josh Hartnett, John Malkovich, Keir Dullea,
Bérénice Marlohe, Jaime Ray Newman, John Rhys-Davies, Tokala Black Elk, Saginaw Grant, Steven Skyler


A cross between fantasy and sci-fi, the latest all-star film from acclaimed director Lech Majewski takes the viewers on a surreal journey between three interweaving stories to illustrate the clash between the traditions of ancient civilizations and the modern high-tech world of the super rich.
After a traumatic split from his wife, John Ecas (Josh Hartnett), a copywriter at Wes Tauros’s company starts writing his boss’s biography and accepts an invitation to his opulent mansion. Suffering from a personal tragedy, Wes Tauros (John Malkovich) is an eccentric trillionaire and the wealthiest person on earth, hidden away from the world except for sporadic public appearances. His uranium mining company buys the Valley of the Gods to bore tunnels through holy Navajo land despite strong opposition from the traditional owners. The collision of ancient Navajo legends, the writer’s narrative and a trillionaire’s eccentric existence offers a reflection on what is truly significant in our world, and highlights how endless desires of modern man lead to devastation of nature and our own serenity.
Starring Josh Harnett (Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbour), Bérénice Marlohe (Skyfall), John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich), Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey) and John Rhys-Davies (Lord of the Rings trilogy) VALLEY OF THE GODS contrasts opposing social extremes through three separate storylines. The story is told predominantly from the perspective of the Navajo, highlighting the desecrations of the American government, large-scale consumerism and the impacts on indigenous people. A cross between fantasy and sci-fi, Lech Majewski’s VALLEY OF THE GODS, just like works by David Lynch, Terrence Malick or Wim Wenders, is a distinctive artistic cinema abundant in parabolas and leaving the audience to make their own guesses as to what to take from it.
Filming took place in several locations in Italy, United States and Poland, including Lower Silesia, the Cistercian monastery complex in Lubiąż, the Książ Castle, and director’s hometown of Katowice. The score was composed by Oscar winner Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, known for his music in Finding Neverland and Washington Square.
The film screened at the 2019 Gdynia Film Festival and the Warsaw Film Festival, as well as during the 27th Camerimage International Film Festival, where Lech Majewski was presented the Special Directing Award for his “unique cinematic vision.”
"I am fascinated by the beauty and poetry of this mythology. It illustrates the contrast of primitive America with the current, equally surreal culture of America's myth. With the culture of mass media and dreamed-up film illusions. It is summarised, among others, by the phrase ’sky is the limit’, demonstrating that everyone can become enormously richs".
— director Lech Majewski said in a statement
"Lech approaches each film as it were a painting, and in terms of scope and multitude of ideas, Valley of the Gods is easily his largest canvas" — said producer Filip Jan Rymsza in a statement.
LECH MAJEWSKI
Film and theatre director, creator of Videoart, writer, poet, painter. Born in 1953 in Katowice, he studied Art at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow as well as directing at the National Film School in Łódź. Author of photographic, painting and sculptural exhibitions and Videoart presented in many museums and galleries around the world. Member of the American Academy of Film Arts and Science (AMPAS), American Directors ‘ Guild (DGA) and European Film Academy (EFA). Recipient of numerous awards at numerous international festivals, lecturer at multiple universities and colleges around the world. His film works include such titles as THE KNIGHT, WOJACZEK and THE MILL & THE CROSS. Majewski also collaborated on the screenplay for BASQUIAT, directed by Julian Schnabel.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
NOMINATED: Golden Lions Best Film I Gdynia Film Festival 2019
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