In the time of Counter-Reformation, a miller and his son come under investigation by a priest of the Inquisition, when rumors spread that their prosperity comes from working with the Devil.
The Devil's Trap is a film directed by František Vlá?il, based on a novel by Alfréd Technik, adapted by František A. Dvorák and Miloš Kratochvíl. It was the first of three historical dramas that Vlá?il made during the Czech New Wave (technically he isn't really a part of the New Wave, however these films were made during the same era of artistic freedom), preceding his more well known Marketa Lazarová (1967) and Valley of the Bees (1968).
Set in the late 16th Century during the Catholic Reformation, in the Moravian Karst, situated in what is now the Eastern Czech Republic, it tells the tale of a miller (Vítezslav Vejrazka), and his son Jan (Vít Olmer), who come under suspicion and are investigated by a Jesuit priest of the Inquisition (Miroslav Macháchek), when rumors of witchcraft are spread by the local regent (Cestmír Randa), who is jealous of the miller's prosperity and degree of respect among the local populace.
As expected from Vlá?il, this film is a stunning experience all the way through. From the opening shot, an ominous manipulation of perspective with a close up of a mangled figure of Christ dominating the foreground against a tiny figure in black walking along the horizon, to the breathtaking confrontational finale inside the vast stalactite filled Karst caverns, it is a wonderful display of visual mastery.
Maybe not quite as impressive as Marketa Lazarová, but still full of astonishing imagery. As seen from unique angles and distinct points of view which highlight the director's remarkable sense of awareness of framing, motion, and positioning on the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most memorable being a repeated shot where the camera is suspended and launched with speed through the air towards the miller's door.
The story here is a simple one and I would say more accessible than his later works. With a conventional structure emphasized as much by its plot and characters, than by its expressionistic cinematography or authentic historical detail. The events play out without much surprise, and there is a strong underlying, almost supernatural, mysterious aspect that is left unresolved, in fact barely explored, which is slightly disappointing, but only because it's so fascinating that I wish there was more.
Acting is great all around. Particularly the villains: Miroslav Macháchek as the priest, casting a sinister and imposing shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Randa as the weasel like regent behind all the persecution. While Vít Olmer brings a charismatic leading man presence in his role as the miller's son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chadimová), who becomes a dangerous object of rivalry between Jan and other young men of the village.
The film also features the evocative music of Zden?k Liška (perhaps the most prolific composer of the Czech New Wave). In this his second of eleven collaborations with Vlá?il, his compositions are used sparingly, but to great effect, complimenting but never overpowering a scene. The best example of which can be heard in an amazingly shot celebration and dance sequence at the end of the second act.
The Devil's Trap might not be a masterpiece, but it is still a strong effort, with a fascinating straightforward story and a glorious historical setting captured beautifully by Vlá?il's unmistakable visual prowess. A fine work that would also be the perfect starter plate to prepare yourself for the challenging feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest running time. It's therefore puzzling why this gem remains largely overlooked and ignored.
粗剪和上映的版本各看过一次 梅艳芳华绝代 专属的美无可复制
和课题组人一起看的，女主角演到最后越来越像梅姐，风华绝代。
万达影城（五角场店）杜比影厅
售票路演场，坐得很满。结束后主持人和江老板、王小姐一起领着全场合唱《夕阳之歌》，大家不情不愿地站起来，但音乐一起还是忍不住跟唱。那一刻就在心里默默地跟梅姐说，你看，大家还是记挂你，还是很爱你。尽管电影是拼贴式流水账，避重就轻、食之无味，可是从非典爆发、哥哥离世开始就疯狂飙泪，直到《夕阳之歌》告别曲的叠影，再一次听到那坚决的、用力的「byebye」，还是哭得头疼。之所以失望，是因为它没有拍出「衰落」——香港的女儿，与她的香港，生死攸关——在极盛极美瞬间的凋零，既是上一世纪的余音渐弱，也是下一时代的后劲尽失。而最为难过的是，为一个好像只是不久前才离去的人立传，这本身似乎就是港影破落的镜像，也是时间被吞噬、你我不曾有向前一步的痕迹。
女主侧脸梅艳芳，笑起来满岛光，真的蛮靓的。
边看边怀念，也边擦着湿润的眼睛，梅姐给我带来的感动不光是舞台上的惊喜，也是面对生活从不退缩的坚定。
全程不是在想哭就是在哭，但是演员演戏痕迹有点重
梅艳芳短暂却精彩的一生。从电影来说，拍得比较普通。如果不是这位昔日巨星的故事，电影里没有那些熟悉的歌曲、电影，没有那些熟知的姓名，这电影可能不太会打动人。对于不知道梅艳芳的人来说，看完电影仅仅能大概了解梅艳芳的一生。观众可能不太会被电影反映出来的她的魅力所吸引，也不太可能因为她的离去而感伤。但，这毕竟是梅艳芳，所以看的时候还是会感动，她离开舞台时还是会流泪。有些瞬间会分不清是新拍的画面还是真实的片段，王丹妮某些神采还是挺像梅艳芳的。
看到后半段确实很感触，最后的演唱会甚至泪流不止，但并不是说电影拍得有多好，而是“梅艳芳”这个人物的个人魅力，作为传记片实在太平庸了，前面一直在赶，整体有太流水账，想表达的太多，什么都想说，但也无法深入，这就有点可惜了，整部电影像歌曲的串烧，一首歌带出一个时期，过于分散，或许人物的典型事件再精确点会更好，而且各种影像资料的插入，作为纪录片的话确实是很珍贵的历史资料，但是作为电影却失去了最重要的观众认同感，导致演员变成了一个工具人，无论对电影还是要演员都是一种伤害。当然，通过这部片子，确实也听懂了歌曲里面的歌词，梅艳芳，我们都会永远记得你。7
其实，这部电影又何尝不是文艺界的《长津湖》呢？感动的不是电影，而是那个人、那些人。
梅姐和哥哥的魅力在于自在，洒脱，真，没有人演的了他们，或者说他们没法被演。
梅艳芳传奇的一生，很难被浓缩为一部电影，但《梅艳芳》却尽可能的在努力做好这一点。电影中作为的导演梁乐民并没有刻意的去制造冲突，而是以她生命中最为重要的时刻作为电影的节点，从童年贫苦的艰辛到中年面对病魔的坚强，其将一位才华横溢，积极乐观的香港之女再次跃然光影。
长达三个半小时的导演完整版，其实都知道依然很碎片，很多内容都没法深入，但是多少看得出几个阶段的不同侧重点，但不好轻率说新人王丹妮是完全失败的，这就是一部概念先行的片，应该看得出编导想表达的是什么，不够客观，当然对梅艳芳这样的人物只能这样处理了，还想怎样去挖所谓内幕和深度呢
太浅薄了，连梅艳芳为什么是梅艳芳这个最基本的问题都没解决，女主确实有几分像情绪爆发点也能不拖后腿，但眼神里没内容，演演二十多岁的梅姐还可以，岁月完全没在她身上留下痕迹
整部片子其实挺不统一的，又像是大型cosplay纪录片，又像是情节剧，又像是历史片，你要告诉我这是香港的女儿，鬼才相信
梅姐和哥哥的魅力在于自在，洒脱，真，没有人演的了他们，或者说他们没法被演。
作为电影无疑是失败的，虽然看得出做了很多努力，包括人物的还原、服装/妆容的设计、音乐的穿插等等 但是storytelling太flat，无非是流水线地讲完了梅姐的一生，甚至commercialized到有消费嫌疑……（相比陈可辛的《金枝玉叶》系列 真的很想感叹一句香江电影没落了啊🚬（但毕竟从小听这些歌长大and真的真的真的很爱梅姐和哥哥 那些真实的照片和footage（尤其03年4月1日）出来时还是忍不住泪崩了一点点🥲🥲🥲 also 女主蛮惊艳的 但这个张国荣，就，哥哥是“游戏人生” 他是浮夸到想揍他了（。
全片反复出现“硬颈”，但完全没拍出Anita的这一点。
导演编剧但凡多看几遍《波西米亚狂想曲》，也不至于拍的这么无趣，仿佛完全不知道观众想看什么。
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