Plot Marketa Lazarová

the sons of robber clan patriarch kozlík ambush small caravan travelling nearby mladá boleslav in winter. 1 man escapes, turning out new bishop of hennau , important ally of czech king, while 2 captives clan takes bishop s son , assistant. mikoláš, 1 of sons, encounters neighboring clan leader lazar scavenging @ site of ambush. threatens kill lazar, spares him prays christ forgive mikoláš. returns settlement father, kozlík, grows furious @ him allowing man escape , bringing captives.

later, kozlík reaches settlement after being chased wolves through forest. had answered summons king , upon arrival mladá boleslav, king s captain attempted take him custody. anticipating regiment led captain, clan abandons settlement , moves deeper forest. mikoláš visits lazar s settlement, urging him kozlík ambush regiment. lazar s young virgin daughter markéta shocked see father s men brutally beat mikoláš, allowed leave. when returns, kozlík sends small group of men avenge beating. turn upon finding regiment has arrived lazar s settlement , shoot down captain s closest knight rides meet them. captain swears justice , vengeance.

lazar , markéta visit nunnery, lazar has failed bring required amount of money allow markéta take vows. when return settlement, mikoláš , men have captured it. kill lazar s mentally disabled son, kidnap markéta, , nail lazar gate. upon returning clan s forest stronghold, mikoláš rapes markéta , protects father s wrath. meanwhile, romance has developed between bishop s captive son kristián , kozlík s daughter alexandra, whom impregnantes. had time ago had affair brother adam, lost arm result. kozlík chains mikoláš , markéta, falling in love, kristián , alexandra on hill outside fortress.

when captain s regiment arrives adam whom had captured, kozlík allows 4 inside. after initial rash attack in adam dies repulsed, captain mounts second attack succeeds. kristián sees alexandra chased dogs , torn in loyalty father , love her, running off forest. mikoláš, markéta, , alexandra escape while kozlík taken captive mladá boleslav. alexandra comes across kristián , crushes head rock. markéta return home father, survived crucifixion, rejects her. travels nunnery , begins take vows mikoláš attempts free father castle dungeon. leaves during ceremony find mikoláš dying in castle courtyard wounds suffered in rescue attempt. captain marries mikoláš , markéta on spot before men take kozlík away , mikoláš dies. in final scene, markéta wanders countryside narrator reveals both , alexandra had sons. markéta nursed both boys, implying alexandra died after giving birth, perhaps comitting suicide.