After watching this movie, one can understand why it's in the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Noah (Chris Klein) returns home after seeing combat in WWII. He finds out that his home has been sold, his parents had died and his younger brother, Travis has been jailed for robbery. Initially, it appears that Noah who has a passion and uncanny ability to catch fish was looking for a place where he can belong. During his journey, he befriends a boy named Matthew (Zach Mills) whose mother had died and abandoned by his father. Matthew who is mute is being raised by his grandparents, Howard (Jay O. Sanders) and Ada (Betty Moyer). Noah also meets Eleanor, a widow whose husband had also fought in the war. What appears to be a chance meeting is really a divine appointment. Eleanor is a lonely widow looking for love but trusting that God would guide her to the right man. Matthew is a boy who longs to have a father figure in his life! After a while, one wonders is Noah looking for a place to belong or is he running away from grief? The pain that he couldn't save his army buddies! These words by Eleanor could sum up the movie; "I don't why this world has to shatter in pieces?"... "All of us we're hoping for a sign aren't we? A sign that we have a purpose. That we're being guided towards it." These words of Noah could describe his deep love for Eleanor: "If I trusted even for a moment in those signs you believe in.... I would've try to be one for you."
Review of The Valley of Light
