Lech Majewski's 'Valley of the Gods' Blends Navajo Mythology with Western Excess

Lech Majewski's film 'Valley of the Gods' premiered in Italian theaters on June 3, 2021, distributed by CG Entertainment in collaboration with Lo Scrittoio. The narrative interweaves three stories: the world's richest man and art collector Wes Tauros (John Malkovich), a struggling young writer John Ecas (Josh Hartnett), and an ancient Navajo legend. Tauros's uranium mining company threatens to excavate the sacred Valley of the Gods, violating Navajo beliefs that spirits of ancient deities reside within the rocks. The film was shot across Utah, Los Angeles, Rome, and Polish castles. Majewski, also a poet, painter, writer, composer, and producer, previously directed 'Basquiat' (about Jean-Michel Basquiat), 'The Garden of Earthly Delights' (inspired by Bosch), 'I colori della passione' (about Pieter Bruegel), and 'Onirica' (a contemporary take on Dante's 'Divine Comedy'). He noted that while researching for 'Basquiat', he interviewed several US billionaires and observed their isolated lives in 'gilded cages'. The Navajo community, initially reluctant, ultimately expressed pride in the film's portrayal from their perspective. Majewski described the Navajo as having a rich inner life despite poverty, and he aimed to contrast commercial cinema's reliance on special effects with ancient mythology.