Údolí vcel AKA Valley of the Bees (1968) FotW #335

[Cocoa]

Film of the Week #335: Údolí vcel AKA Valley of the Bees (1968)



Summary:
Ondrej, a young boy who loves bees and bats, is introduced to his new mother, a woman much younger than his father. He brings her a basketful of flowers which she starts to throw in the air and then gives out a shriek, as she discovers several bats in the bottom of the bowl. In a rage, Ondrej's father picks the boy up and hurls him against the wall. As the boy lays on the ground paralyzed the father promises the Holy Virgin to dedicate the boy to her if she spares his life. Ondrej survives and is raised in a strict Knightly Order, where he is mentored by a devout monk, Armin. But one day, an extraordinary event makes him doubt the Order and remember where he came from.

#25 on 500<400, with 265 checks.
Nominated by blocho, filmbantha, joachimt, and Traveller.
On IMDb
On iCM

From the 500<400 results

#25(⇧132, #157) Údolí vcel (1968)
[Valley of the Bees]

Directed by: Frantisek Vlácil
(812.49 Pts, 18 Votes) , Top 1–10–50: 0–2–9
History: 25←157←53←278←955←NA←NA

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ICheckMovies: 304 Checks , 47 Favourites , 3 Official lists

List of Voters:

lineuphere (2)
BaalMan (6)
outdoorcats (12)
hurluberlu (17)
Ivan0716 (21)
PynchonesquePatrick (25)
nimimerkillinen (33)
Gorro (44)
Ebbywebby (45)
joachimt (66)
jal90 (NA)
russa03 (96)
burneyfan (161)
Eve-Lang-El-Coup (161)
klaus78 (170)
Mothravka (NA)
St. Gloede (380)
Perception de Ambiguity (4487)

This movie fits the current 1960s Challenge.



Here is a schedule of all the FotWs.

[72aicm]

Nominated by 72aicm and blocho.

Hmm, I don’t think so.

[Cocoa]

Nominated by 72aicm and blocho.

Hmm, I don’t think so.

Sorry, an old copy that I didn't paste over.

[xianjiro]

better than average

[blocho]

There were some great sequences in this one, like the death of Rotgier and Armin's crisis of conscience after being kissed by Lenora. I certainly appreciate Vlacil's style. But the pacing was off, and the whole movie felt thematically inconsistent.

[Traveller]

I loved it. Had beautiful cinematography and a great feel to it. Added it to my <400 list.