I want to talk to you about the film "Valley of Smiles" and why you should watch it.

"Valley of Smiles" is an Italian post-apocalyptic drama by Paolo Strippoli, shown at the Venice Film Festival — a movie that rarely leaves anyone indifferent, and in fact it turns out to be an amazing experience of pure emotion. For the idillic fascade of the mountain village of Remir, where all the characters are free of sin, scripture trembles with a thrilling ritual: the residents are about to lose their 15-year-old Matteo, because he fell ill and they don't have enough money.

The plot is built around the arrival of a former champion at dead Sergio, whose attempts to endure the personal tragedy. He is the only one in Matteo who doesn't smile, and ordinary people, including his own daughter, exploit his ability for personal gain, turning the village into a collective instrument of psychological experimentation.

Strong cartoon characters — this is what makes the atmosphere and moral ambiguity so convincing. Strippoli's screenplay captures the tension of the residents through painstakingly familiar fragments, which are developed through the evolution of the subject into a surprising ending. The film skillfully plays with themes of illusion and identity in a closed community, while the most striking impression is the debut work of Julio Feltri in the role of Matteo — a young man whose image of an angel with problems with albinism stands out remarkably and touching.

The film is not without flaws. It takes a long time to build up to the plot twist, especially in the finale, which does not have dynamics, and the ending is somewhat predictable. However, "Valley of Smiles" is a subtle and stylish horror for those who value atmosphere and are not afraid of tears, a filter of philosophical subtext and an unforgettable atmosphere.