Valley of Shadows was released in movie theaters in our country a few months ago, specifically on January 12, 2024. The reception by the general public was quite acceptable, but nothing out of this world. However, the reviews from the experts were generally positive and, even those who were harsh with some aspects of the plot, recognized the great work of direction and photography behind the film.
It is an adventure and survival film in which a man, a woman and her son visit northern India. Because of a storm, the protagonists decide to sleep outdoors in the middle of the mountain. That is when they are attacked by bandits, who end the lives of the mother and son. The man, badly injured, is rescued by a native who takes him to his village, a small town in the middle of the mountains from which it is almost impossible to leave.
In order to leave the town where he has been recovering, Quique has to wait for winter to arrive and the river to freeze, since it is the only exit route allowed by the village’s inhabitants. When the time comes, the Spaniard sets off on his way with some children who are trying to get to the city.
The exciting film has an exceptional cast in which great figures of our country’s acting stand out such as Susana Abaitua or Miguel Herrán, as well as Iván Renedo, Alexandra Masangkay, Stanzin Gombo, Morup Namgyal, Pavel Anton, etc.
Throughout the film you can see how the character played by Herrán faces all kinds of scenarios and feelings: fear, guilt, sadness, tiredness, anger, frustration, claustrophobia, gratitude… The film is made up of a narrative thread exciting that invites the viewer to live the protagonist’s journey with him.
Although the film already had some social recognition, its premiere on the Netflix streaming platform has made it one of the most successful audiovisual titles in recent months.
Since it was released, the film has occupied the top 1 on the list of the audiovisual giant’s most viewed films in our country (it currently occupies second place). It should also be noted that the film had three nominations for the 2024 Goya Awards: Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Production Direction and Best Special Effects. Ultimately, he did not win any of these awards.
