Eden Valley

Set in a small farming community in Northern England, Eden Valley follows Billy Hogg (Darren Bell), an inner-city teenager who gets caught stealing and is sent to the country to live with his estranged horse-breeder father Hoggy (a charismatic Brian Hogg). Used to the concrete under his feet, Billy isn't necessarily prepared for a rural existence, but Hoggy isn't used to raising a son, either. Made by a committee of filmmakers, Eden Valley partially feels like a documentary for its realistic and honest depiction of life in this working-class community, where the weather itself becomes a character, constantly making the already hard chores seem like torture. Yet the characters are never self-pitying, as their respect for the land and nature makes their daily sacrifices seem beautiful and worthy. Recommended. (L. Russo)