The Valley of the Bees (Czech: Údolí včel) is a 1968 Czechoslovak historical drama film directed by František Vláčil.

The film follows a young man Ondřej who's sent to join Teutonic order by his father.

When he flees the order and returns home, his friend Armin is determined to bring him back.

His son Ondřej gives live bats to Lenora as a wedding gift, which enrages his father who almost kills him.

Armin travels to Bohemia where he hears about Ondřej from charcoal burners who wanted to steal his sword.

Körner was doing research for his novel Písečná kosa about Prussian uprisings when he was contacted by Vláčil.

Vláčil was inspired by historical movies of Ingmar Bergman and Robert Bresson.

It proved to be technically impossible so Kačer suggested Petr Čepek for the role of Ondřej.

The director demanded that ascetic knight Armin needs to be slim, so Kačer was forced to lose 11 kilograms for the role.

Many felt that it didn't reach the qualities of Marketa Lazarová, which premiered just 4 months earlier.

[5] Gustav Francl criticized the casting Jan Kačer, who he felt didn't fit in the role of Armin.

[6] The film had better reviews in foreign press and today it is considered one of Vláčil's best works.