La Vallee

Remembrance on DVD
I saw THE VALLEY (Obscured By Clouds) in a theater in the 70s, though probably not on its first-run engagement. What I remember is the imagry, not the music (in hindsight I'm startled Pink Floyd supplied the mostly subtle score), and an awe for the film and an appreciation for the night on walking out of the theater. I remember the ad campaign, but it was a word-of-mouth hit -- "You HAVE to see this movie!"

Much of the content is dated to its times, but a surprising portion is not. Remember, too, that the term "hippie" was itself getting dated in 1972, the pursuit of personal pleasures rising, as one bit of dialogue touches on.

The DVD transfer is imperfect, but artifacts are not obtrusive. Some of the editing is abrupt, again not detracting from the whole. The film is largely in French with some English and native New Guinean; English subtitles are available, but only accessible by pressing the Subtitles button on the player or remote.

As with most art-house films, THE VALLEY...

the mountains and the valley beyond
Opening scene: Vivian, a diplomats wife, is browsing through the artifacts offered for sale in a grass hut in New Guinea. Vivian is seeking some rare feathers that fetch huge sums at Parisian Boutiques. She is a socialite and yet she is also very comfortable in the very earthy surroundings she finds herself in while her husband is away on business. At first hers seems only a casual curiousity but then in walks a tall blonde hippie stranger who has just returned from the interior with a cache of rare feathers -- after that it is not only feathers she is interested in but the tall blonde stranger as well.

Vivian catches a ride with the stranger and accompanies him back to his camp site. As soon as the two enter the tent they see a couple laying naked together. Vivian is surprised and yet also turned on by these very relaxed living conditions. The hippies live very close to the earth and they want to get even closer. In this very sensually open atmosphere the blonde stranger shows...

La Vallee - Great for the true Pink Floyd enthusiast
Whelp, Ive waited a long time to see this movie. I am quite glad I own it and have seen it. It was not quite worth the 13 year wait to find a good copy, but it was a pleasure to watch. If you are buying this as a Floyd enthusiast, buy it. If you are looking for a good foreign flick, you might wanna check out other movies. The soundtrack by Pink Floyd is quite good and fittingly placed in the movie. The best example of this is of the opening credits. The valley "Obscured by Clouds" song leaves a longing for the truth of the valley. Good movie overall, but it was quite special to hear the Floyd in a different media. True Floyd fan?? Get it. If not, dont bother. Hope this helps.

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