Valley of the Shadow of Death Film Review

Directed by: Sen Lam, Antonio Tam

Written by: Antonio Tam

Starring: Anthony Chau-Sang Wong as Pastor Leung, George Au Chun-hoi as Ah Lok, and Sheena Chan as Ching Leung

Film Review by: Nina Romain

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In Valley of the Shadow of Death (2024), Pastor Leung (Anthony Chau-Sang Wong) runs the church of Faith and Love, where he deals out no-nonsense advice along with food to the homeless. In an opening scene, he advises a local unfortunate briskly to “stop taking drugs” while providing a hot dinner.

During this act of charity, he takes in a local homeless young man, Ah Lok (George Au Chun-hoi) to help in the church in return for food and shelter. Grateful for somewhere to stay, the young man works hard and settles into his new life, but mentions to the Pastor that he feels guilty about something for which he served time in jail.

His crime is revealed to be the rape of the pastor’s only daughter three years ago, teenager Ching (Sheena Chan), who later took her own life as a result. Pastor Leung and his wife (Louisa So) are obviously struggling to deal with their loss; Ah Lok wants to be forgiven, and although the Pastor is unsure and his wife is angry, he manages with difficulty to forgive the younger man.

Relieved, Ah Lok says he can now “forgive” Ching. It’s revealed that he was bullied at school by Ching, which is interesting, but the narrative fails to point out why, as she just tells the schoolboy that she’s like that with everyone. Did the couple know this flaw of their daughter, but choose to remember her as perfect?

There’s a good deal to reflect on as Pastor Leung struggles to forgive Ah Lok, and his wife makes it clear that she won’t be able to. The audience wonders how much they would be willing to forgive. Does Ah Lok’s new way of life – helping in the church, playing with the local toddlers, talking a young pregnant woman out of taking her own life from desperation – mean he should be forgiven?

The deliberate pace and dimmed, sedate colouring of Valley of the Shadow of Death, created by director of photography Shek-Keung Wong let the three main characters grapple with moral dilemmas washing over from their past while trying to do the right thing in the present. Although not an easy watch, it’s thought-provoking.