The Valley of the Bees

The Valley of the Bees
Directed by František Vláčil
Produced by Věra Kadlecová
Written by Vladimír Körner, František Vláčil
Starring Petr Čepek, Jan Kačer
Music by Zdeněk Liška
Cinematography František Uldrich
Edited by Miroslav Hájek
Production
company
Distributed by Ústřední půjčovna filmů
Release date
 17 May 1967
Running time
 97 Minutes
Country Czechoslovakia
Language Czech


The Valley of the Bees (Czech: Údolí včel) is a 1967 Czechoslovak historical drama film directed by František Vláčil. The boy Ondrej grows to manhood in a harsh religious order, where, with a hint of homoerotic tension, a Teutonic knight and veteran of the crusades becomes his mentor. When Ondrej eventually flees this life to which he was forcibly consigned, settling in the castle of his childhood to marry his father’s young widow, it becomes clear that his unforgiving mentor is prepared to pursue him to the ends of the earth.

This film was written by Vladimír Körner. Theodor Pištěk designed the costumes for the film.

Cast

Production

The film was produced after Vláčil's previous film Marketa Lazarová. The film was very expansive and Barrandov Studios ordered Vláčil to make another film set in Medieval so properties and costumes would be used in another film. Crew couldn't shoot in the same location because scenery was stolen.[1] The film was eventually shot at Church Kuklov near Brloh. Some parts were shot in Poland.[2]

Jan Kačer was chosen to star as Armin and Ondřej. It proved to be technically impossible for him to ply both characters. Kačer then suggested Petr Čepek to play Ondřej.[1]

Reception

Critical reception at the time of release was negative. Critical opinion later changed and The Valley of the Bees is considered one of Vláčil's best films.[3][1][4]

See also

  1. 1 2 3 "Peripetie Údolí včel: Tlustý Kačer, šeredný Čepek a zpitý svéráz Vláčil mezi nevybuchlými minami... - AHA.cz". Ahaonline.cz. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Zříceninu Kuklov změnili filmaři na středověkou tvrz z Údolí včel". iDNES.cz. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  3. ↑ televize, Česká. "Střet fanatismu s touhou po svobodě v Údolí včel". ČT24 (in Czech). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "František Vláčil: Údolí včel". www.odaha.com (in Czech). Retrieved 16 July 2017.
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