The Virgin Spring

Sweden, 14th century: Christian Per Töre, a heathen who has converted to Christianity, sends his daughter Karin to take candles to the church a day's journey away. She is accompanied by her stepsister Ingeri, who secretly still worships Odin. At some point, they part ways. Karin meets three herdsmen who invite her to eat with them. Karin accepts their invitation, but then she is raped and murdered. The men run off with her belongings. Unknowingly, they end up seeking shelter at the house of their murder victim. The truth comes out when they try to sell Karin's clothes to her mother. Vengeance awaits them.

The story of faith, doubt, innocence, revenge, and forgiveness was adapted from a 13th-century Swedish ballad "Töres döttrar i Wänge". Because of the rape scene, the film was considered controversial in some countries at the time, still the critical reception was very positive, as evidenced by the awards it won, among which the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.