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.
………………………………………………………………就 行吧
其中一星⭐给饰演洪启辰的小哥哥
说实话个人还蛮喜欢精巧营造的水墨画面的，水底、树林和洞穴的光影美则美矣，却不能深入到叙事的新意，同时可惜的是摄影机的存在感太强，表面上在讲个体反主旋律，实际上主体被分散了，个体的内心依然空洞。整体上，就是内容跟不上形式的追求。
看了其他评论才想起来，影片最开始有一些蛇的意象的刻画；中间有飞蛾的意象。反正，蛇的出现是挺败笔的。
前面觉得一般，结尾还是有被震撼到。美院也是把风格化做出来了。还有，终于懂为什么北影节要把“红军与白军”改成红与白了。
这部电影里的每一个长镜头都是一个妥妥的加分项，太喜欢这一部的画面质感了，一下子就让人沉浸进去了。
22.6.17学院派优秀学生作品，一些大佬坐镇以及背靠学院支持，拍出这部技术流。故事表述无趣，影像作为了主打趣味体现。忘了哪个导演说的“要学会给自己的作品做减法”，本导演懂得剪辑成只有90min，也看得出来拍了肯定不止这么点。前面山涧徒走多有看头，后面拍成“动作枪战”作甚。全片服化道尽力做样子而成拙，懂得用灰色渐黑白来摸去突兀感，如若彩色，这作品几乎连影像趣味都丢失了。演员极力在表演，通篇像话剧，不知道这是夸还是踩，痕迹生硬。导演坚持以及保留自身风格，是很赞赏的，多磨练吧。
棱角分明，侧颜杀满分，尤其那凸出的喉结都是戏，男性荷尔蒙爆棚。
非常风格化的一部战争片。叙事、剪辑、风格、摄影都不主旋律，特别好！
幻觉部分水里还有埋小哨子那里拍出来恐怖片的感觉魔幻现实
你说吧，这样一个电影，真的有点不太忍心打低分。这么多肉眼可见的粗糙之处、稚嫩之处，离“成熟的佳作”，还有很远的路要走。但是又不得不承认美院的人真的认认真真地雕琢出了这样一份作品，主创们比绝大多数内地战争片、主旋律片创作者更有底气将自己拍的东西称作艺术。一些镜头的设计、意识流的使用还有结尾的血雨倾盆，给国内烂大街的战争题材注入了鲜有的美感与诗意。可能最近真的被金鸡百花恶心到了（年年主旋律任务片开会），这个好评必须要有。
为声音指导兼混音的徐晶晶老师多亮一颗⭐
看到有人在认真拍电影，还是感动，不太愿意苛责。
影像很美，调度有出彩的地方。故事很单薄。影像的诗意≠诗电影。
3.5 对诗性空间的探索蜻蜓点水，看完像是瞥见了一张薄薄的无字宣纸。
影像的黑白风格很有意思，算是本片一大亮点，但同时也使得几个未详细刻画的配角在观影时难以辨认，且枪战戏的调度和剪辑比较拙劣，加上黑白风格难以第一时间意识到具体发生了什么。不过最大败笔也是最影响观感的还是后期配音，人声明显能听出回音来，且完全不考虑口型、起止的问题，让我一度以为放映音画不同步。最后这片子能在北影节拿最佳影片……我挺不理解的。
一边标榜“此片聚焦的是时代洪流下被遗忘的最普通的人”，一边声称“我们的片子是按照电影院的最高放映标准来制作的”，不敢相信竟存在如此割裂的创作观。
谁tm说主旋律不能搞艺术/艺术片不讲主旋律？
进影院之前，我觉得热评虽然刻薄，也八九不离十，这八成是一部学院派装逼自嗨电影。看完电影以后，我？？？原来装逼的是热评。哇这酸臭味大得可以再拍一部甄嬛传了。
要上映了打个卡～个人挺喜欢，前半段以为是水墨版《1917》，那种无形之处的恐慌感，像雾气一般的危机四伏。后半段幻觉与现实反复堆叠和最后的血雨印象太深刻了，不过剧情还是有拖沓瑕疵的地方，多一星奖励他没有胳膊腿乱飞炮火连天。
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