HAPPY VALLEY American Independents

Filmmaker Amir Bar-Lev (THE TILLMAN STORY) turns his camera on the community of State College, Pennsylvania, which in 2011 weathered the child sex-abuse scandal that brought down iconic Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and assistant coach and perpetrator Jerry Sandusky. Filmed during the year following Sandusky’s arrest, the documentary examines the sociopolitical powers that conspired to hide his actions. Although there were clear signs of dark deeds, no one wanted to rock the boat of the winning team and disrupt the community – known as “Happy Valley” – that worshipped these men as local royalty and father figures. Sandusky’s organization for troubled youth created the perfect cover for his behavior, including his relationship with his adopted son, who is one of the key interviewees in the film. HAPPY VALLEY examines a culture of blind reverence that may have concealed a terrible “open secret” for decades.