In the Valley of Elah

Paul Haggis's In The Valley of Elah is based on actual events, and portrays a military father's search for his son and subsequent hunt for his son's killers. The film explores themes including the Iraq war, abuse of prisoners, and post-traumatic stress disorder following active combat.

The film tells the story of war veteran Hank Deerfield (Tommy Lee Jones), his wife Joan (Susan Sarandon) and the search for their son Mike (Jonathan Tucker), a soldier who recently returned from Iraq but has mysteriously gone missing. Hank's investigation is aided by a police detective (Charlize Theron) who becomes personally involved in the case.

Mike's body is found, cut to pieces and burnt. Military officials initially attempt to block the police investigation and then suggest Mike's death was due to drug-related violence. His platoon mates who last saw him lie to Hank and the police. Hank, a former military police officer, tells the police that although he suspects the soldiers are lying about something, they could not have killed their comrade. Ultimately, it turns out that Hank is wrong; the soldiers had killed and dismembered Mike after a seemingly insignificant quarrel. The soldier who confesses to Hank and the police seems emotionally detached from his words and actions, likely due to post-traumatic stress disorder from the war.