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.
电波就是爱啊；其实本片最大的亮点是本尼的表演
画面很漂亮 卷福加猫 可以想象特定群体肯定爱的不行。
男主看着小女孩在妈妈坠落的地方蹲着时因为小还没意识到死亡是什么的时候男主抱头痛哭，因为这一切他都经历过。
2分。两个三十多的演十几岁的高中生，纵然允儿满脸的胶原蛋白还是违和感很重。和父亲的线其实处理的不错，但是爱情这条线真的可有可无，我都看不出允儿这角色对主角有什么帮助。
看见奶牛猫咪彼得爬上楼梯真的好萌，老年卷福更有感觉，马上去买路易韦恩的猫猫画册，之前看的好多幅原来是他的。
允儿这一段更自然点，轻松喜剧爱情效果，甜。
较为高级的传记片拍法，只是1.43的画幅小荧幕看实在难受。
这样的天才不去培养，是人类的大罪。可我们已经犯了太多的罪。
男主演员选的岁数有点偏大了 以前不太能get到允儿 这部有点改观
囊括的东西太多，假装已故的人还在、萤火虫推进爱情关系这种设定太老套了，好多情节都没啥关联，节奏太慢，煽情太狠。不过我还是比较喜欢男主父亲停车站那段，姐弟招手拜别最有电影感了。
真好看，让我想起假如爱有天意的感觉，虽然剧情并不同，但很温暖，方言加持演员演技剧情推进都没的说，韩国人在这方面做的真好，总是知道在哪里使力，让你哭到眼睛疼，却也会傻到可爱傻到笑，很温暖，家人是这世上最打动人也是最容易共情的关系话题，强烈推荐～
“Cats are excellent conductors of electricity" 哈哈哈哈哈哈悟了吗
关乎亲情，关乎爱情，关乎父子、姐弟，关乎梦想，暖暖的，强烈推荐
可见世俗平庸琐碎的苦难，无论是坚如铁石的意志，还是纯洁温柔的赤子之心，都扛不过去啊。画家真的会觉得世界是美丽的吗，恐怕只有他头脑中被回忆滋养的世界是美丽的，而在那之外还有噩梦、溺毙的恐惧、无法言说的苦楚、难以抑制的哀号。
温馨的故事，温馨的姐姐，沉默却充满了力量的父亲。姐姐这个角色真的太暖了，奇迹的不是小站，是当地的人。ps：光秀不是长劲鹿李光秀，是林允儿。
有悲惨童年和控制狂家人的插画家，侥幸拥有一段好时光，后半生始终在回忆里挣扎。得而复失，太痛苦。
选角导演们现在是一看到天才角色一键打给本尼了。电影本身不太行，某些镜头运动怪怪的。小猫也不够多，难过，预告片里猫猫好多。
画，画没讲彻底，情，情没整明白，猫，猫没拍多少，贯穿始终的只有病，，我就来看猫的啊
4⭐
虽然《路易斯·韦恩的激情人生》没能成为我的又一部《莫娣》，但可以追平《我想藏起来》。以及，在我印象中这是继《梵高：画语人生》之后「本尼迪克特·康伯巴奇」再一次饰演画家。另外，1.没想到是 1.33 : 1 构图的电影；2.影像风格有些许「韦斯·安德森」的感觉；3.某些镜头拍得美如画，比如 47:23 两人散步的段落；……
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