Haggis' Big Challenge

After showcasing his latest pic “In the Valley of Elah”  at both the Venice and Toronto film fests earlier this month,  writer-director Paul Haggis brought the film to Gotham for two intimate screenings. Prior to Thursday’s Literary Society screening at the Lowes Theater at Lincoln Center, Haggis explained the origins of the pic about an Iraq war veteran's murder that was inspired by a Playboy Magazine article. “One of my agents at CAA sent me the article because I had told them to bring me the material they thought will never be made. They warned me that it was going to be tough project to get financed and it was.” Helmer added that he was happy that the pic was one among many war-inspired films this season. “When our President says that you shouldn’t question what he is doing and just go along with the war, we filmmakers like to think for ourselves, which is why I think you are seeing a lot of these films coming out right now.” (A. Morfoot)