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.
个人风格太强烈！太爽了！以及，我想在电影院看完这四个小时！
去年七月隔离期间又看了一遍院线版，其实我不讨厌那个版本，它错就错在被剪辑得极其平庸，平庸到和制作不像来自一个次元，平庸到断送了这个系列的未来，而这也从侧面烘托出了导剪版的悲壮，因为部分演员以后都不会再在系列片里出现，并且部分填不上的坑以DC的尿性肯定不会再填上。这次导剪版依然是一个怪胎，冗长的只有粉丝会高潮的铺垫和最后燃烧经费瞠目结舌的大战加剧了头重脚轻（我能用太平轮举个不恰当的例子吗），使它注定无法和对家的终局之战一样拆分成上下两部还保持着极强的观众粘性，但还是感谢扎导把他想讲的故事（虽然这个故事可能没那么好），最真诚地讲了出来。不管非粉丝能解读出什么来，我都理解这部片子为DC大粉和一个悲伤的父亲给我们和他的女儿最好的礼物。
又名《正义联盟：甲方乙方》（一部无法独立存在的作品——扎家丧事、华纳内斗、民间运动⋯⋯都是影片的线下“预告”。2017年的《正义联盟》不是电影，是事件，如果对其始末不感兴趣，不必跟风观看本片，毕竟４小时挺长的 ）
我很喜欢！导演的影像世界特别完整，其风格也是贯彻始终的。影片的气息和节奏都很流畅，三小时不觉闷不嫌长。这种主题和内容确实适合用荒诞闹剧的形式来展现，但要做到有趣味（不是低级的插科打诨，而是根植于视听的趣味）其实很难，《椒麻堂会》做到了。
哎我觉得还不错？终于知道在说什么了 每个人背景更详细性格也更立体了 大战的时候每个人都有自己的贡献 也不至于感觉除了超人外都那么没用 但是为什么当年不分成上下部上映呢 华纳我悄悄在你耳边说句：天堂岛的女孩子！！！！快给个独立电影吧！！！
有一些有意思的片段，但导演想表达得太多或者什么都不想表达，像是学生作业一样讨好老师以满足某一套对中国电影历史和文化的期待。有技巧和想法，但没有个性。
在Laemmle看的 川剧魔幻版霸王别姬...
因为我怕有一天再也看不到这样的电影
哎我觉得还不错？终于知道在说什么了 每个人背景更详细性格也更立体了 大战的时候每个人都有自己的贡献 也不至于感觉除了超人外都那么没用 但是为什么当年不分成上下部上映呢 华纳我悄悄在你耳边说句：天堂岛的女孩子！！！！快给个独立电影吧！！！
看完就很想找個四川人說說話，把剷鏟板板錘子格老子的都講個邊
非常厉害的电影 一个四川人的史诗 虽然有些角色讲四川话讲得太做作 对其余角色刻画也有点弱 但每个角色都能看到四川人的鲜明特点 苦难时可以阴阳怪气无奈求生存 黄泉路上不忘初心三缺一也要搓麻将 用四川人的乐观来描写近代历史变迁的苦难 搞笑中的悲凉感更甚 时代是新了又新 环境是变了又变 没有带走的都是四川
比院线版好点有限，扎导还是老问题，能力支撑不起逼格，全靠拖沓、慢镜头、bgm来凑，剧情逻辑和人物行为逻辑全都可以为了逼格乱编。不过有一说一，比bvs导剪版让人吐血的剧情和桥段已经好一些了。
BIFF 放映，虛實交錯方式結合川劇來講中國近代史，很有趣
如今所谓电影众筹就像搞诈骗，电影拍完搞各种内部放映，众筹过的人巴望着能看眼片都得求爷爷 告奶奶 反正钱到手了 片子拍完走了一圈影展 至于当时这些影迷 最多也就是当作贩卖一笔情怀呗。
为了大本蝙蝠侠我看了这四个小时,我可真是爱他。但我最喜欢超人对蝙蝠侠说的那句话剪掉了
Anthology film archives
前两个小时时长塑造几个角色心路历程比较饱满，母盒来世今生算是讲明白。除了钢骨，闪电侠作用大很多，尤其是最后一幕大战中。达克赛德，火星猎人，卢瑟，都有出镜，以及梦境中黑化超人和海王之死，是想看的一部DC宇宙电影。
这部片子的现世，已经不是一部电影的诞生了，这意味着民意在文化导向中的胜利，意味着资本对于创作者的屈服(虽然在他们的视角是我出钱给你导演补作业，所以你没有工资)，虽然这些决定和疫情导致的院线溃败，转战网络点播不无关系，但这个结果相信让各方面的人都能满意释怀了，特别点名感谢在中间斡旋的诺兰，电影人的信仰与力量~
第一次坐在电影院看这么长的电影。简单的舞台剧布景形式下能够将典型的时代特征和发展脉络叙述完整，真挺不容易的。
整部影片舉重若輕，人如鴻毛在時代的洪流中。從臺上到臺下，陽間到陰間，歷史是一出唱不完的戲，一條渡不完的河。個體身上的灰塵和苦難，抖也抖不盡，說也說不完，但還是要說，不管是用嶄新的話語還是古老的曲調也要說，不然時間就是一碗孟婆湯，抹掉了真實的鮮活的記憶，只留下白茫茫的一片廢墟。
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