In the Valley of Elah

In the Valley of Elah is another movie full of details to entertain a cine-club congregation. The real heart of the United States of America is at its best, the city, the places, the people, the sordid strip clubs, the cars, the come-and-go daddy-mummy-son relationship, the controversial and man-eater Army. There is a stream of life running wild as human interaction strikes, while Nature is merely a phlegmatic observer, undisturbed and majestic. The interpretation of Tommy Lee Jones -and that of his counterpart Charlize Theron- is magnetic.

I liked especially, without any specific reason apart from its mastery, the scene when Lee Jones tells the story of David and Golliah to Charlize's little son, David, at bedtime. I have never heard anybody tell such an old story as much compelling. Beautiful.

The people of Israel, after the conquest of the land of Canaan in the dark of the ages, had to fight against the numerous little kingdoms already there; in addition, worst, they had to face a fearsome and indestructible enemy: the Philistines. These people came down the sea from Greece and Crete and were close to destroy the Pharaonic Egypt. Their images are carved on the walls of the temple of Medinet Habu (the tomb of Ramses III, I think it is in Luxor). Paul Johnson says that the Philistines "were tall and slender -giants to most Asians-, clean-shaven and eable-eyed, wore panelled kilts with tassels and their chests were protected by multi-layered ribbed linen corselets. Their headgear, distinctive and frightening, were upright circles of reeds or leather straps or horsehair, mounted on a close-fitting cap. Each warrior carried a pair of spears or a long sword, or both (...). This formidable people moved into the coastal strip, slaughtering the Canaanites and pushing into the interior (...)". Out of "this formidable people", as it wasn't enough, comes out Golliah, the monster giant.

And here it comes the marvellous story of Tommy. The two armies are on top of a hill each, separated by a valley, the Valley of Elah. For forty days, Golliah presented himself to the Israelites, pushing them to fight: "And the Philistine drewe neere, morning and evening, and presented himselfe forty dayes" (1 Samuel 17, 16). The eldest sons of Saul did not dare. But the youngest, David, coming down from the mountains where he attended cows and sheeps takes over the army. And although Saul "armed David with his armour", he says to Saul: "I cannot goe with these: for I haue not proued them" and goes on with only his shepheards bag to face the giant creature. Golliah disdained David, "for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance".

"And it came to passe when the Philistine arose, and came, and drewe nigh to meet Dauid (...) and Dauid put his hande in his bag, and tooke thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunke into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to earth" (1 Samuel 17, 48-49).

"It is not true [the story]", blurted out Charlize -as if the C.S. Lewis' Narnia series the boy had in his bedside table were-, and Tommy retorts: "It is. It is also in the Qur'an". It is indeed mentioned in the Qur'an, surah 2 and ayats 246-251, although the playwright story is vanished: the devouring and omnipotent power of Allah oversizes the human drama of the Hebrew version. "When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed: 'Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: help us against those that reject faith'. By Allah's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He will. And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds" (Surah 2, 250-251).

I have the Bible of Saint James and a translation of the Qur'an -cost me 2 pounds on this bargain place on Euston road- "cheek to cheek", one next another, in my tiny library of survival here at home, in the hope that... I don't know... Perhaps, both traditions will melt on one night of magic.

The wonderful story of the Valley of Elah.

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