Deep Dive: Happy Valley (2014)
Film Lens
Happy Valley is a documentary that recounts the events surrounding the child sex abuse charges against Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive coordinator of the Penn State football team. In November 2011, Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse, which led to widespread scrutiny of the university's handling of the situation and raised questions about accountability and protection of children.
Directed by Amir Bar-Lev, the film presents a critical examination of the culture at Penn State, particularly the strong sense of team spirit that some believe contributed to the failure to protect victims. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and later won a jury award at the Sarasota Film Festival, receiving positive reviews for its thoughtful approach to the scandal.
Why Watch
- •See how Penn State's culture impacted child protection.
- •Meet key figures involved in the Sandusky scandal.
- •Find out why the film won awards at film festivals.
Did You Know
•Jerry Sandusky was charged with 40 counts of child sex abuse in November 2011.
•Happy Valley premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.
•The film won a jury award at the 2014 Sarasota Film Festival.
•The film has a duration of 97 minutes.
Perfect For
Sports cultureChild protection issuesUniversity scandals