biblical allegory

His films like 'The Gospel According to St. Matthew' and 'Salò' directly adapt biblical narratives and use religious allegory to explore power, morality, and human suffering.

His austere, spiritual filmmaking—particularly 'The Passion of Joan of Arc' and 'Vampyr'—uses biblical and religious symbolism to examine faith, sacrifice, and the transcendent.

His metaphysical cinema, especially 'The Tree of Life' and 'A Hidden Life,' weaves biblical creation myths and spiritual allegory throughout intimate meditations on grace and human existence.