The Valley of the Bees(Údolí včel)

The final instalment in Vláčil’s trilogy of historical epics, released during the months of the Prague Spring, follows young lord Ondřej who is given by his father as a boy to the Teutonic Knights, where he grew up under the guidance of the overly devout Armin. When escaping from the repressive religious order, Ondřej is pursued by his former companion, whose fanatical devotion ultimately sets the pair in deadly conflict with one another. Drawing a complex parallel between the two characters living under authoritarian systems, the film – with its stunning black-and-white cinematography – creates a beautiful yet brutal tale that probes the conflict between human freedom and religious ideologies.