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.
不是所有科幻都得狗血撕逼 也可以这样温情脉脉的选择结局
和《双重躯体》做交叉观影大概会很恶趣味www
“不需要看剧情，看画面，看风景，看室内装饰，装修了。” 这是什么评论？看电影不需要看剧情？
不适感会有 但故事还是理想化了 所以处理的很好 结尾真的很扎心啊……
2. 是科幻（或者说科技）与人文的结合。
阿里演技绝了，一人分饰两角，但是我能一下子通过眼神分辨出来谁是cam谁是jack；情绪感染力太强了，能体会那种一个人孤独死去的绝望感，但是家人依然能幸福生活的安慰感。
克隆人研究因为伦理问题戛然而止，电影把这个命题放在垂死之人的选择下。若你知道自己生命将至，而生者还有很长的路要走，那么你是否愿意接受被挚爱之人遗忘，独自承受孤独恐惧痛苦，而把欢乐希望幸福留给他们呢？卡梅隆回到家里，看到一切安好，跟孩子和妻子做了最后的告别，那段真的很感人。I love you，always have，and always will
在心中我深知我能释然
把告别这件事掰开了揉碎了讲到了心坎儿里TT被遗忘是一件痛苦的事
中间真的有很触动得嗲，继承意志，另一个身体和记忆的*我*代替我去爱这个世界我在乎的，真的又破碎又无解，这才是另外的梦。
太难过了，大概一个小时之后我就开始一直流泪，在远离城区的地方一个人死去，骨灰洒在大海里，“我”变成自己生活的局外人，流水一般的电影，Ali流水一般的表演，我该如何与自己和深爱的人做最后的告别，我该如何与流水一般的生命告别啊。配乐真好，科幻与哲学的深处都是寂静的，电影对这点把握得很好。
画面很美，音乐很棒，剧情感人。但本人从伦理上不支持克隆人代替原主人寄托情感。
虽然就是一个高概念小品，而且某种程度上还和机械姬很相似，但是几个主演给剧作增色很多。特别是Ali的两个角色，非常有信服力，微表情太牛了，不愧是影帝。
解答了我对 2006年电影 The Prestige 的疑惑
这真的是一个人可以为另外一个人做出的最大牺牲了。
我猜Ntr都不愿意干这事...好多可以挖掘的深度和矛盾比如自我和存在这种都没没拍出来，临门差几脚。
黑镜既视感。摄影，剪辑，光影，设计，都太对我胃口了。
解答了我对 2006年电影 The Prestige 的疑惑
近几年软科幻冷门佳片。不得不说，在这方面美国做得比国内好。沉得下心来，又有新认知，有新世界观架构。最重要的，虽然属于小成本，但制作精良。
导演并没有很好的利用起生命延续这个本可以很深沉的话题，而是把重头戏放在了关于面对死亡和告别的老生常谈上，最终实现的效果也还算不错，但总感觉这个大命题放在这里很奇怪，有太多悬而未解的伦理问题和逻辑缺陷，虽有几处也颇让人动容，但只因观生命消逝的人之常情，更深层次的思考，似乎并未怎么触及，多少有点可惜。
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