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.
内容单薄。同性恋的努力可以移动群山颠倒银河。
最后三分之一时间，扯淡的真相揭晓出来。非常拉胯。
前面看得云里雾里……节奏太长了…其实也还可以吧
半小时，看不下去了，同样讲drag queen，pose比这个的立意深刻多了...
剥离掉灵魂转移，就是一部标准韩式动作片。开头有点乱。
变装历史的回顾和现代“艺术课”两段还蛮惊艳的，从舞美设计角度比《毕业舞会》强了不少，但是emmmm……好听的歌还是没有，蛮可惜。家庭和社区氛围对LGBT社群的友好程度影响真的很重要，没有这些支撑而走出来的“变装皇后”真得很厉害，不辱片中她们的“战士”之名。有机会想看下160分钟高达9.1分的舞台剧，看看完整的《人人都在讨论杰米》的真正模样。
没想到看得人很少…一直推迟看该片因为男主和我前任同名 现在剧荒所以看了 蛮不错的 中间那个drag很惊艳
电影需要更多的细节和真实填满
无处不在的镜子 无处不狭隘紧迫的构图 都把主角压迫在空间里 压迫在一个个躯壳里 通过几个与主角有关系的人物视角带出整个事件 在传统的线性叙事下 破竹出新颖的叙事方式
选角还是棒棒哒，但对着我的小屏幕大大削减张力。可能看现场舞台剧会好一些
灵魂脱离就是我们现在的人生，不断的长大，不断地思想变化，最终围绕不忘初心结束。挺好
设定吸引人，但故事并不精彩且比较无聊。前半程脸盲（相似的脸型、小胡子、短发，衣服区别也不大）导致不好理解情节，后面线索多一些才明白一些
Sometimes it’s okay for musicals to simplify things; but for a movie, simplification is not necessarily a plus
I'm not gay.
故事一般，打戏也一般，竟然看困两次，林智妍演戏真的好没灵魂。
因发现同事才是最大的贩毒集团后，被注射最新毒品，灵魂出窍附身在离自己最近的人身上，找到前因后果，救出心上人。
主演是《犯罪都市》里面的反派，动作戏拍的还不错。
有点像一部国外电影，创意还是不错的，值得三星
脑洞大，从头到尾都是紧张节奏。反正一直到结束神经都是紧绷着的。
记忆是在灵魂里还是大脑里呢…总感觉格局太小，虽然事是这么个事，都能灵魂出窍了，结果就这？失望大于期望了，整体节奏还行吧～
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