Valley of the Shadow of Death 不赦之罪 Review: Anthony Wong Brings Quiet Intensity to His Role as a Pastor in This Flawed But Well-Acted Drama
Co-directors Jeffrey Lam Sen and Antonio Tam Sin-Yeung’s feature-length debut Valley of the Shadow of Death underlines a story about one’s test of faith, which in this case, a pastor played by Anthony Wong — credited as Anthony Perry Wong — as Leung. He’s devoted to his God and has been leading the congregation at the Church of Faith and Love, often preaching about the importance of faith and forgiveness. But beneath his modest personality lies a man who’s been scarred by a devastating past, even though time has since healed his soul.
Or so it seems, especially after his faith is ultimately tested when he stumbles upon a homeless young man claiming his flat has been repossessed while distributing food. That man in question is someone he remembers from his past: Lok (George Au), who already did his time for raping his teenage daughter, Ching (Sheena Chan), resulting in the latter committing suicide three years ago. Now, being a pastor, Leung has two things he can choose to do: forgive and forget, or seek vengeance. But Lam and Tam aren’t interested in sinking into a typical resolution of depicting a vigilante-like protagonist.
Instead, they opt for a more challenging path by posing an all-important question of how far a pastor like Leung can continue adhering to his principles. He ends up providing Lok a shelter to live in the church, and even offering him a chance to start afresh for repenting his past sins. Leung’s decision, of course, doesn’t sit well with his still-grieving nurse wife (Louisa So), who has long been losing her faith and giving up religion after the tragic death of their daughter. A later scene in the car, where she questions Leung about making peace with such a rapist who doesn’t deserve forgiveness, showcases subtle acting prowess between Louisa So and Anthony Wong without resorting to overwhelming histrionics.
The first half handles both dramatic and emotional weight well before the plot thickens once the twist reveals new information. I won’t be delving into the spoiler territory, but let’s just say the movie’s turning point is fundamentally intriguing. Except that the execution isn’t as compelling as I thought it would be, with ocassional stop-start momentum dragging the movie in some parts, despite clocking in at just 84 minutes. It would be nice if Lam and Tam embrace the conflict without diluting its outcome, which in turn leaves an eventual third act that feels rather underwhelming.
Still, for a feature-length debut, Valley of the Shadow of Death shows plenty of promise within Lam and Tam’s co-directorial efforts. Kudos to them for bringing out the best in their actors of both old and young, beginning with Anthony Wong and Louisa So’s understated performances as an estranged couple torn by a tragedy. Wong particularly has that world-weary look with his rage-fueled emotions bottling deep within his seemingly mild-mannered exterior. He may look like he’s forgiving Lok, but he doesn’t let him off easy, evidently in his way of forcing him to commit to the religious act of suffering.
Singer George Au of Cantopop boy group P1X3L proves he has what it takes to play the demanding role of a rapist and ex-con looking for redemption, while Sheena Chan, previously seen in Blossoms Under Somewhere, makes the best use of her limited screentime as Ching. The movie displays a distinctly cold and dark visual palette, reflecting the story’s gloomy subject matter, thanks to Wong Shek-Keung’s atmospheric cinematography, who cleverly utilises shadows and dim lighting to his advantage, turning the otherwise vibrant Hong Kong into a city of despair. The rape issue occurs during an extended flashback, detailing how Lok ends up assaulting Ching, but Lam and Tam are careful not to succumb to a lurid, exploitative fare.
