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.
其实就是平时观察者网、tweeter上的那些破事。十年？二十年？届时再看可能更有意义。
4. 社媒的能力是 monetize anger & despair
当冲突能带来利益，既得利者们开始引导甚至制造冲突。
去年刚出的时候感觉蛮新颖挺好玩，但今年在炒一次冷饭就明显觉得无聊了~
我感觉还不够 应该不只是拍摄西方世界的 把全世界的人类一年内发生的重大事故讲一遍 之后发射到太空中 就像旅行者号一样 让外星文明看见 这样我们就可以确保不会被任何高等级的文明摧毁了 毕竟他们看见人类那么蠢 早晚会把自己作死为什么要花时间资源去攻占地球呢 可能攻到地球的时候 人类早就灭绝了
“我新发现的变异病毒...”
跟《向上看》比说不上非常优秀，但也够聪明，用来打发无聊又莫名焦虑的一个半小时是值得的
这咋还整成每年都有了，说明确实好不了了……
（试管摔碎）
有些地方还挺好笑，气候大会处不忘记黑中印，工业化的末班车，印度也不知道有机会赶上不
人设太有代表性了，这么看来让他们每年聊聊热点事件就能完成节目了，有料有趣却又无聊，请不要用这个系列代替黑镜圣诞篇… “纪念”每年被封S的明星那段倒是有创意。
当冲突能带来利益，既得利者们开始引导甚至制造冲突。
2、仍然很傲慢，满满的傲慢；
没有2020去死讽刺力度大，但还是回顾了一下主要的点
极尽讽刺之能，很适合在这个可笑的年代，可笑的民主社会里结束2021。
哈哈哈！跨年看了两部电影，一部是现在这部，另一部是《不要抬头》，看完才发现这两部电影还真是相得益彰！同样是吐槽，同样是讽刺，同样滑稽，同样好看！原来缺席China的网飞《2021去死》其实是央妈的《新闻联播》，如果《新闻联播》这么来一期绝对赞爆了！“你的2021收获是什么？”“我学到了大家在2020都毫无收获。”四星推荐！
在回顾2021世界大事件时，更重要的是对当下通过社交媒体阴谋论横行，一切都被平民政治化讨论，一切都敏感得要死的现状进行讽刺。
放下zz正确不带观点看扯淡，会更有趣一点。
男主身材好好，好狗。姐姐帅。见缝插针讽刺职场垃圾老男人，女导演真好。亚洲人也能搞这种素材，谢谢韩国人！
（ps：个人认为影片整体传达观点全面而客观，但其反讽演绎形式需要观众有独立思考，不易愤怒的基本素养）
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