Film Review – The Stolen Valley (2022)

The Stolen Valley is a remarkably enjoyable modernist western indie that rises to prosperity due to a wicked, unlikely chemistry between interesting leads and encouraging messages throughout including indigenous land ownership, colonisation, and fundamental conservation being challenged or acted upon.

Believing her father had ed before she was born, Lupe (Briza Covarrubias) works hard as a mechanic to make ends meet, primarily ing family during low economic times. In a surprise revelation, Lupe is confessed to by her unwell Navajo mother, that indeed the birth father is actually alive. Deciding to find the missing parent who’s a wealthy businessman of sorts, Lupe embarks on a road trip seeking him out, when suddenly into her life blazes Maddy (Allee Sutton Hethcoat) a gun-toting rodeo virtuoso escaping from a criminal fraternity she owes substantial money to. Not quite Calamity Jane, I loved rootin’-tootin’ Maddy.

Fierce opposites in personality they may be, friendship blooms on the run through the fictional Alta Valley (scenic Utah locations) attempting to the unknown, rich father to potentially assist with medical for Lupe’s mum. All eyes are on these two wonderful actors throughout, allurement through a flurry of action scenes including fist fights, motorbike chases, fireballs, and even an unexpected, oddly scripted, flamenco dance-off inside a biker bar during a Taco Tuesday event. The latter is undeniably different amongst the mayhem, however, it works in providing light relief whilst showcasing a beautiful, traditionally ruffled red dress. Briza melts hearts. An improv background shines through.

Tonally clashing at times, first-time feature film director Jesse Edwards toils hard at establishing fraught meanings behind the adventure whilst gathering dedicated performances, not just the rampaging, girl power leads, but an emerging villain Carl, springs to evil life in the form of relatively unknown actor, Micah Fitzgerald . The scruffy persona lends to his deranged, two-faced mindset against the daughter he never wanted to know and mutiny towards his own when it comes to rightful land claims.

No classic but punching above its weight, the independent film scene rides high with, The Stolen Valley, an entertaining, thoughtful achievement from all involved.

★★★

On Digital in UK, 15th April 2024 / Briza Covarrubias, Allee Sutton Hethcoat, Micah Fitzgerald, Paula Miranda / Dir. Jesse Edwards / Lightbulb Film Distribution / 15

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