96. The Valley; movie review

THE VALLEY
Cert TBA
95 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

Almost every time Mrs W and I watch a news report about the death of a child, we ask ourselves how we would have reacted if we had been their parent.
Meanwhile the suicide of a child must be more unbearable than other scenario imaginable.
Saila Kariat probes this territory with her profoundly sad but compelling The Valley.
It focuses on the devastation of a highly successful American-based Indian businessman (Ally Khan) after his youngest daughter (Agneeta Thacker) takes her own life.
Believing that he has given her the best upbringing possible he searches for reasons for the tragedy by retracing her steps. However, he discovers myriad contributions to her state of mind.
During his painful quest he begins to take his attention away from his cutting-edge Silicon Valley tech business and even calls to question his marriage.
Meanwhile his wife, played by Suchitra Pillai, seems to be in denial of her daughter's death and their difficult relationship leading up to it.
The Valley explores what it is like to be brought up in an ambitious family as well as a status-driven community.
It also delves into the stresses of a university student struggling to fit into new surroundings both academically and socially.
When I was younger, suicides among the young was virtually unknown - nowadays it is frighteningly common.
Indeed, Master W, who is 27, was at a funeral of a former school friend only last year. As a teacher, he also tells me about the alarming number of students on suicide watch.
Kariat's film very effectively brings these issues to the fore.
Society should watch and listen.

Reasons to watch: A poignant exploration of teenage suicide.
Reasons to avoid: Not enough emotion considering its subject

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Director's quote - Saila Kariat: "I raised two girls in Silicon Valley and witnessed the kind of pressures and anxiety they face. It is the tyranny of opportunity.”

The big question - When will this spiral of teenage suicides end?

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