The Valley of the Bees

When teenaged Ondřej surprises his father’s young bride with a basket of flowers – hiding live bats underneath, a symbol of misfortune – the enraged father nearly kills the boy. Aghast at his own act, he begs God to save the child, promising him to the church if he survives. And so Ondřej is sent away to the austere Teutonic order on the Baltic Sea where fugitives get killed by dogs. He becomes friends with Armin, a very pious and handsome boy. When Ondřej decides to make a run for his native Bohemia, Armin follows after him in an attempt to bring him back. Seemingly close Platonic friendship turns out to be repressed erotic attraction that destroys everything around.