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.
感觉和《变蝇人》很像，总体来说华丽的元素外衣下依旧是常见简单的人物动机，而最重要的 也依旧是 在具有超凡想象力的元素语境下 人物的抉择和情感挣扎，构建出一种新的格外有感染力的体验。还有那些基于未来或者极端情况下的哲学探讨，同时为其中的哲学探讨而着迷（尽管看样子我完全理不清。（不能不再次感叹柯南伯格为这些元素和情感体验赋予的质感，100min太值了啊）（同时惊讶于场景的封闭有限性却让人完全愿意沉浸其中）
kinky……你这让我说什么好，还是袁老说的：吃得太饱。1080P 22/06/21
高概念的艺术呈现，蕴含了太多的隐喻，也可以有很多种解读。关于进化，关于创作，关于欲望… 柯南伯格真的很会玩~ Viggo和Lea的表现力绝了。
探讨科技，艺术和道德边界的矛盾，主题创意还不错，但是很多人物动机我没太看懂？ 主角卧底改造人世界结果最后自己变成改造人了？克里斯丁在里面的戏很迷，她到底是干什么的。
怪异的未来，人体进化了，艺术也进化了，连性爱也进化了。蕾雅赛杜很美。
thanks, but no thanks
跟《钛》一样的大受震撼系列。Creepy.
终于到了现代“行为艺术家”对人体出手的年代了？行为艺术和生物进化的概念拼接缝合，加上劣质道具，器官特写和演员各自为政且显而易见满头雾水的做作表演，这片子真是变态和解读爱好者的狂欢
就为了看吾皇的美颜，请允许我表情包评论：我看不懂，但我大受震撼
柯南伯格创造了一个具有全新概念的世界，身体由人类掌控，器官成为艺术，血腥艺术，手术即是性交，大量全新的概念涌入倒是创造了不小的观影压力，但是不得不说全程看下来竟然觉得蛮有意思的。斯图尔特和维果那段对话看得我真难受啊，一个口里卡着痰，一个说话喘大气…（借用柯南伯格那时对《潘神的迷宫》的吉尔莫德尔托罗说的话：“拍的很棒，但是金棕榈就别想了”）
不是没拍过学术又带劲的电影啊，这部怎么这么拉？可能个人实在对于肉体SM没有任何兴趣吧，而比这更糟的是丑爆的简笔画刺青！既然美术都往异形上使劲了，对内脏的装饰设计咋就不能稍微上点心…
怎么突然就结束了，我还以为没演完呢，还在等大招呢。。。。。
疼痛与欢愉的两面，行为艺术之“掏心掏肺给你看”，看完感觉脑子被解剖了一遍…
。。。。。。
但是，这是柯南伯格呀，就已足矣。
可能我对克制的柯南伯格不太接受。人物内在过于追求高概念设定，还没想好这个未来是怎样的“实在”表演就结束了。物种进化和继承从自然理论过渡到人为嵌入，假如没有警察的线会好很多，他根本和vigo对不上戏嘛。我还挺喜欢极具想象力的new sex方法
走向未来？想多了，脑壳给你开两个洞
有些头重脚轻。前面对各种名词理解无能几度倒带回看，故事全貌揭开后反倒期望落空，在我这是把整部影片拉低了一个档次。柯南伯格的视觉呈现依旧大胆，结尾很喜欢。
实在是接受不了。科幻的外壳下，柯南伯格搞了个用人体器官来做行为艺术的设计，内核依然是俗套的。当众表演解剖人体，在器官上纹身来达到新型的xing体验，变异的人类从自然生长不同器官到逐渐形成系统，这些内容本质上与《钛》相似。但《钛》是震惊大于恶心，这部电影是恶心大于震惊。除了某些画面强烈的生理不适之外，我实在是接受不了片中有解剖小孩shi体的桥段。哪怕相关内容并不血腥，我也知道那只是一个道具。人类可能会进化成新的物种，这在未来可能是一种“罪行”，可惜我没看出来导演对此表达的批判或产生的哲学探讨。
究竟何为“未来罪行”？是对痛感与畸形的变态追求？是对自我生命的漠视与改造？还是面对进化规律时的顽固抵抗？如果说从最开始的当机立断切割器官，到后来的拖延，从看到蕾雅赛杜的“头雕”的反感，到最后自我改造，拥抱合成食物的过程是维果饰演的主角的一种思想启蒙与进化的话，他的“罪行”或许在被自己慢慢赎清。BTW，Surgery is the new sex，真是一个恐怖而新奇的观点。
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