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.
今年的印度高分电影好多。
8.5 2022上半年看过的最好看的电影，没有之一。
良心面前，没有少数服从多数的法则。阿三也开始和棒子一样敢拍了，然而，那又怎样。
反转来得出人意料，却又在情理之中，期待下部
这部剧真的很神奇，尤其是中国发生了唐山事件后，简直是嘲讽至极~
这是今年看到的最妙的华语电影。可以说，它是一个骨子里是欧洲电影的上海电影，也可以反过来说，它是一个骨子里是上海电影的欧洲电影。既有老派上海电影的精神，也有侯麦和伍迪艾伦电影的气韵。它妙在，就靠画家白老师为核心的几个人，一条街，一双鞋，一个画展，一部电影，几顿饭，一个亦真亦幻的爱情神话，螺蛳壳里做道场，却构成一个有时间感有空间感有回味的故事。也妙在，它没有传统的启转承合，而像是在生活里切了一段，结构却已经在里面悄悄藏好，故事启动力都很微小，却密不透风，腾挪跌宕，每一秒钟都敦实，像一个没有话剧痕迹的话剧。还妙在，所有演员都精彩，没有一瞬间的戏接不上，也没有一刹的情绪塌掉。最意想不到的是，那个关于索菲亚罗兰的梗，轻描淡写的铺陈，看似漫不经心，最后却成了整个故事最悠长的一部分。
前一个半小时不懂为啥8.6，后一个半小时这8.6打的值👏🏻
PS：最后来个复仇情节属实没必要。
2小时30分，再次反转，之后应该没有反转了吧，律师果然是男主。
看得出导演努力地想把这关于上海人市井小资生活的电影上升到某种基调，但是很抱歉俗到家了，若是真诚地拍市井烟火也可以拍出好电影的，不知道为什么非得把自己往文艺上硬凑，压根不是这块料，结果生活不生活想搞深刻然而影片那种塑料平庸的质感又喷屏而出，尤其是把徐峥这个角色设定成一个画家也别扭至极，活脱脱一工厂老板味道，真的辱画家了，整部电影叨絮片面又刻意，还有背景音乐也是一通强行乱插。
中国大银幕上太稀缺的城市电影（人物、故事和情感都与城市融为一体），通过女性视角去展现属于成年人的两性情感关系，虽然是小人物、小情调，但蕴含着极大的生活能量。作为爱情轻喜剧商业片来看又比很多同类影片（无论中外）多了一丝灵动，这得益于导演的一些调度小心思为影片质感做了有效提升。今年小荧屏上有《爱很美味》，大银幕上有《爱情神话》，国产爱情喜剧影视作品也算是功德圆满了。
不再纯洁，却是风味人间。
同热评，这部剧包含了如此多的现实话题，让我惊讶，连印度片都这么敢拍了……真的厉害
牛逼，恐怕我们国内的导演只有仰望的份。当一个民族失去了站起来的勇气，我们的脊梁已弯曲到只能卑躬屈膝，无论你在内心里怎样的呐喊，不过都是徒劳。我们不要迟到却终会到来的正义，我们要及时而决绝的正义，只有这样，才能捍卫法律的尊严，国家的尊严，民族的尊严。
但又似乎踮踮脚也还够得着。
印度影人敢拍，难能可贵的是可以公映。我想，这是否意味印度有一个光明的前途？
奔着女性故事来的，而不是拼贴画！
想表达的太多了，最后的反转不如省掉，整体不错，主题更是犀利
一部看了之后让我在大夏天里不开空调和风扇却能起鸡皮疙瘩的电影……国家花重金搞教育，是想让我们的居住地变得更干净更美好，为什么那么多人热衷搞脏它？私欲真的凌驾一切吗？净土究竟在哪里？怎样才能找到？或许在于多数人有勇气不是只抱怨，而是用行动去实践正义、抗议不公吧。太喜欢影片讲故事的方式了，几连反转，将真相抽丝剥茧，里面的每一个重要角色都有私与公的暗与光之面，尽管遵从的是种因得果的朴素法理逻辑，但善恶背后的复杂性一览无余，更兼着耐人寻味
因为想要探讨的话题比较繁多，所以在剧情的设置上感觉异常地丰腴，与其说是电影，节奏感上更像是一部迷你剧。印度的种姓，司法公正，政治，媒体，社会舆论……几乎都被覆盖了一遍，导演是很明白民众的情绪走向的，所以几处剧情在刻意为之的情况下确实非常有煽动性，但整体看来印度片对人物的刻画还是比较薄弱，许多情节冷静下来思考缺乏一定的合理性。不过看到片中许多台词，真的很难不对号入座，所以，我们的宿敌又是谁呢？
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