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.
反转很精彩，但剧情稍微有点拖沓，尤其上半集为了煽情而煽，前面节奏有些松，加快点就更好了
老白比徐峥本人可爱多了，不只是有闲有钱，还做事熨贴懂生活情趣：做饭时会在桌上插把花，把孩子弄脏的裙子画上画，特地买了你喜欢的话剧原著送给你，临走前还帮你坏了的鞋拿去修，即使长这样也有魅力。倪虹洁小野猫嗲又灵
豆瓣特供版《小时代》。不懂男人，不懂中年男人，更不懂上海，全是自以为是的猜想，虚妄的符号之下，空空荡荡。
一个反转再反转的电影，印度熟悉的抨击社会的题材，节奏和情节堪称完美
电影时长真可以，本片最厉害的主人公电影演一多半了才出场。高分印度电影近年来的套路就是:通过应接不暇的神反转，埋伏足够多的隐喻，进而拔高电影的整体立意。最后被轰炸了几个小时脑细胞的观影者不得不感叹:看着虽然累但电影还是牛叉的。PS:本片适合放暑假的师生细品。😅😅😅
一部我在简中边偷乐边等续集的电影，导演别逼我求你。
世界是少数几个人的游戏，我们只是各种规则制度下的尘埃。
-彼时彼刻？-恰如此时此刻。-竟能如此相像？-像，太像了，不过你比他缺了一样东西。-不会是脸上的麻子吧？-当然不是，【你不会装糊涂】
前半部分有点无聊，后半部分反转很惊喜，政治统治者利用媒体，法律来控制人民的头脑，媒体报道的真相并不一定是真相，连法律都能为之所用。庆幸的是有人敢站出来，敢拍出来，令人敬佩。
太精彩了，今年四大电影节这部电影没获奖，我TM绝对不认可。
真正难的是起树疙瘩，当你把地面挖开，那张复杂的脉络才显露出冰山一角来。你觉得树根在地下可能只有半米见方大小，但无数条树根可能已经延伸到数米远的地下，跟土壤紧紧得结合在一起。
这是电影吧？唉....这是一部风格糅杂的电影，既像韩国电影那样煽情（偶尔说的印度英语也恍惚间让我以为是说韩语），又像国产电视剧一样动不动来个恢弘的音乐，有时又好像好莱坞电影一样来点帅气特写和慢放。这是一部很“正确”的电影，就像《辩护人》一样，但我不认为是好电影。
题材和内核非常好，但是拍摄手法我不太喜欢，剪辑和配乐过于煽情。下半场才开始渐入佳境，其实完全可以在两小时甚至100分钟之内拍出更加震撼的效果。
8.5分，不愧是擅长扇耳光的民族，扇得那个脑回路啊跟拨浪鼓似的
多层反转，谁还不是个工具人呢？
韩国电影和印度电影有反思，有揭露，我们当然用不到，我们有战狼就够了。
上海，对于离婚和不婚的女性是天堂，对于想要结婚的女性是地狱。
最近，印度好片有点多啊，《较量》的剧本是真的好，反转不太高明，没铺垫，以后说不定我国又要翻拍这部电影了，但是印度电影的通病就是太长了😂😂😂
这是今年看到的最妙的华语电影。可以说，它是一个骨子里是欧洲电影的上海电影，也可以反过来说，它是一个骨子里是上海电影的欧洲电影。既有老派上海电影的精神，也有侯麦和伍迪艾伦电影的气韵。它妙在，就靠画家白老师为核心的几个人，一条街，一双鞋，一个画展，一部电影，几顿饭，一个亦真亦幻的爱情神话，螺蛳壳里做道场，却构成一个有时间感有空间感有回味的故事。也妙在，它没有传统的启转承合，而像是在生活里切了一段，结构却已经在里面悄悄藏好，故事启动力都很微小，却密不透风，腾挪跌宕，每一秒钟都敦实，像一个没有话剧痕迹的话剧。还妙在，所有演员都精彩，没有一瞬间的戏接不上，也没有一刹的情绪塌掉。最意想不到的是，那个关于索菲亚罗兰的梗，轻描淡写的铺陈，看似漫不经心，最后却成了整个故事最悠长的一部分。
1，学生运动的积极性和政治参与性远高于某国，人民可以发声就是正义可以实施的保障之一 2，私刑和程序正义的鸡生蛋问题 3，在本片中，私刑的不合理在于它没有惩罚本案真正的罪犯，在他们背后是更黑暗、更强大的腐败力量（接下来还会有一次反转） 4，因此结论就是结尾那个样子：私刑万万不行。“法律不仅是用来实践的，法律必须被执行“。我能理解影片想要探讨的深层问题，在本片中私刑也成了政党的利用工具。但是在社会已经重症的今天，问题来了，如果没有那么牛的律师一出手就洞察一切呢？没有这位曲线救法的警察呢？多少人相信正义会得到伸张——通过程序正义？那么革命算哪种正义？
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
