Studenica is where medieval Serbia defined itself. Founded by Stefan Nemanja, the dynasty's progenitor, and completed under his sons, the monastery set the pattern for Serbian religious architecture: a church of white marble combining a Romanesque exterior with a Byzantine plan, standing within a circular walled enclosure in a wooded valley. The film gives full weight to the wall paintings - the monumental Crucifixion in the Church of the Virgin and the celebrated cycle in the small King's Church - explaining what makes them pivotal in the history of Byzantine painting. It also follows the monastic community that has maintained continuous life here for centuries, and the conservation work that protects the frescoes. Inscribed on the World Heritage List, Studenica is an anchor title for any collection on sacred sites, medieval art or the Orthodox world, and stands comfortably alone in a fifty-two-minute slot.
