THE LAST VALLEY is an intriguing and atypical medieval film that explores some of the confusion and chaos of the Thirty Years War era. The setting is an idyllic valley, where a bunch of religious folk and soldiers are holed up in a bid to escape the slaughter, but of course it doesn't all go according to plan. This is one of those films, much like Verhoeven's later FLESH + BLOOD, that explores the morality of the era, in particularly the clash between varieties of Christianity and the harshness of the times. The remarkable cast includes an effective Michael Caine and a sensitive Omar Sharif, their central roles bolstered by interesting character actors including Nigel Davenport and Michael Gothard. It's not an easy watch, and it doesn't have all the answers, but it is worth a look.
Review of The Last Valley
