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.
不免會拿《陽光普照》來對照，個人感覺技術退步了，演員的表現也不及《陽光》。
三星半。布局很小，全片就是母女两人，延展的关系交代也非常有限。借用疫情的现实，但是其实“隔离”的情感早就发生了。妈妈完全封闭了自己并且内化出器质性的疾病。女儿被迫成长也更加认清爸爸以及父母关系，父女亲情的鸿沟更深。结尾不确定结局让我开始怀疑灾难的真实性，也可能只是妈妈脑海里的一次幻觉。但是整体片子匠气重，有一种刻意的笨拙感。就如同贾静雯演绎的“思觉失调”，恰巧我有所了解，是药物控制下的木讷。
~感谢导演，最后还是让小静出现了，不然真的有点惨。。。
一场突如其来的疫情让原本就有隔阂的母女间又多隔了两层口罩，也让一个原本还算富裕的家庭脱离了中产，生活的艰辛让妈妈变得隐忍，女儿变得懂事，只要努力一切都在向好的方向发展。保洁阿姨，中介老板、顶头上司、同班同学，那些生活中的善良也在让这场大病渐渐自愈。瀑布是建筑外遮住阳光的蓝色围挡，是疫情下不得不戴的口罩，也是人与人之间看不见的隔阂，当积累许久的情绪随着瀑布一泻而下，变成河流，小溪，终将汇成一座宁静的湖泊。
我还是很吃这种路数。你脑中的瀑布，变作一场无预警泄洪将我淹没。不要再问你还好吗，我会努力变好，我们一起好好生活。Don‘t sweat it。
小溪与河流汇聚成瀑布倾泻而下，然后又形成新的小溪与河流。平静的生活迎来新的打击与挑战，但你不要总问我“你还好吗”，我会努力变好然后和你一起生活下去。到底生活是什么样？人该活成什么样？品质与阶层的坠落不代表人性的坠落，看到小静从灾难中重新爬起缓缓前进，那一声“小静”不仅仅是母亲的呼唤，也是导演对于深受疫情打击的世界重新振作的美好期待吧。
有点算计，而且是还有些别扭的精准，除了突如其来的结尾做一次开放式收尾，其他都是浅尝辄止的试探，《阳光普照》之后，对家庭题材的探索已经够了，建议钟孟宏换个题材继续发力。
大楼戴着「口罩」，人戴着口罩，心戴着口罩，距离成全困兽们的空间。阳光透过帆布，撒下带有氯气味道的蓝，像游泳池水底，水面上的喧嚣越发显出耳畔的死寂——疫情在故事构建中的最佳运用范例。
不如之前的那些故事、线索复杂。看到她们家里那个《电车狂》海报就大体能猜到后面的走向。家里生活困难，还喝ILLY咖啡啊，还两罐。。。
完成度不如《阳光普照》，趣味程度不如《停车》，在疫情的大环境下，刻画女性，伦理关系的电影。《我们与恶的距离》看到了贾静雯的演技潜力，《返校》的女主角王净也挺有灵气，也做了一个台剧/台影宇宙的彩蛋。《阳光普照》陈以文，《麻醉风暴》许玮甯的医护人员，《火神的眼泪》刘冠廷的消防员。“瀑布”的意象引入的不错，阴郁歇斯底里的氛围营造的也不错，但是剧本割裂感比较重，有点失望。评分：7.5/10。
出乎意料地喜欢。不安、未知、突然，像极了我的2021。就是会有很多的不确定性，在原本以为走向平静美好生活之后，突如其来的灾难，多么想找个人问问“为什么是我”，但不是因为是你，而是刚好你在。没有人有那么多的特殊，皮囊、声音、思念，故事在流淌。失语，“不要问我你还好吗，我会想办法快点好起来跟你一起好好生活的”，语言不过巧言令色，母女二人对幸福生活的努力瘦最令人动容的。魏如萱唱歌真好听啊，应该还要陈珊妮的版本？配乐极佳。瀑布之后，还有溪流。
母女二人演的都很好，表演好过故事，刘冠廷最帅；总有人觉得钟孟宏过誉，但确实是我喜欢的风格
在母女關係中的人才能共情吧。賈靜雯最後那句呼喚值10000分。
剧情真是一波三折。叛逆少女、单亲家庭、失业危机、精神疾病、家境陡落……还有最后的意外事件，前半段抑郁，后半段柳暗花明，最后又差点再跌落谷底，但我不觉得这是个故事，这是真实的生活。两位女性主演很赞，状态都拿捏的准确。我们都有自己也未必预料的那么坚强，这是生命寻找出口的原始张力。
钟孟宏的剧情片从来不会让人失望。家庭生活，琐碎事情，中等工薪阶层看似安稳的生活，也会随着一系列的不幸而轰然倒塌。家家有本难念的经。摄影和构图向来是钟导的强项。布局、空镜都很美。配乐也很赞。结尾本以为是个悲剧，没想到女儿小静还是被救了上来，作为观众的我一下子宽慰了，在最后一场戏里一直悬着的心也终于放了下来。而电影就选在这时结束。这样的结局，给人一束温暖。而给人温暖的不只结尾。还有小静的同学们、态度友善的医生、做家务的阿姨，甚至是帮忙卖房子的中介公司经理——尤其是这个经理，真是让人感到讶异，感到世界之温暖。一个房产中介公司竟然不耍流氓、不坑蒙拐骗，竟然会替客户着想，在明显能欺负人的情况下竟然选择了良心，这在中国大陆是绝对不可想象的事！要不是看这部电影，我都不知道这世界上还有这样的房产中介。9分。
陈主任：每个人都有难堪的过去，只是大小不同而已；而且，未来会怎样，谁也不知道。
剧情拖沓，角色“演”的痕迹过于明显，情感表达无法共鸣。一个事业型女强人，生病之后对渣男前夫的执念让人难以理解
冰冰凉凉的，钟镜头下的台北好冷感好阴森，但是故事又是温柔的，很微妙。我觉得观感比《阳光普照》好。
剧本还是很有意思的，一开始的母女是以惯常见的关系出现，母亲仿佛是个利索的白领，女儿青春叛逆期，两人的关系在隔离前更像隔离期，隔着房间说话，不愿意交流等等。等到病情到来，两人却开始扭转。母亲变得任性不可控，女儿却一夜之间变成大人，那把火烧的是母亲对于所谓家的失望，而大火之后果然能重生。思觉失调不过是轻微精神病的另一种好听的说法。而民间把这叫做中邪。看到不存在的人，听到不存在的声音。勉强维持的生活因为一场隔离终于被撕破。最后终于愿意卖掉房子其实就是看清了现实。终于直面了婚姻的失败，母亲也开始找到瀑布的来源。她前面一直没有哭过。哪怕是她生病时面对前夫，那时的她更像是在诱惑前夫回头，直到最后，心中的瀑布经由女儿的变故化作眼泪流了出来。很奇妙的隐喻。
像电视剧，直觉告诉我钟孟宏可能是个会关注比特币、NFT and 元宇宙的人。
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
