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.
古屋兔丸帝一之国还能理解，这部就完全理解不能了～
边玩手机边2.0就刷完了，就是展示了一下被杀爱好患者那种不正常兴趣状态，以及一次失败的被杀策划。
舞台杀人计划的高潮那一段还是拍得不错的。结局还是太温和，编剧下不了狠手导致中途半端的感觉。
三星半，看的人压抑绝望，但现实生活就是如此，哪有那么多热血沸腾的事情值得期许呢，尤其是对人到中年的夫妻而言，让人麻醉的鸡汤也只属于年轻人。
不知道人类为什么用婚姻这种东西来禁锢和折磨自己。
也就是说只要国产电影🈶热气球这个元素一定不好看的意思？ btw这俩演员我太喜欢了所以能看到最后
表演浮夸，台词无趣，各种试图隔靴挠痒逗观众笑，只是各种的让人忍不住的吐槽到无语…旁边的观众说“这怎么还能上院线？”。日漫式的喜剧电影真心不讨国内观众的喜欢
微失望，但好像是今年目前看到比較行的國片（抖
舞台杀人计划的高潮那一段还是拍得不错的。结局还是太温和，编剧下不了狠手导致中途半端的感觉。
3.5 陳湘琪撐起整部作品，真的演得很好，很喜歡音效設計，禪修的警示回音，聽來鏗鏘有力，卻反映著女主角內心無力的吶喊和慨歎，但劇情實在有些空落落，略顯可惜。狗狗泰瑞可愛。
台湾学院派作品，有病呻吟，语境另类，表达平庸，但陈湘琪表演真的还可以（限于某些片段）
成也细节败也细节。戴着戒指的手、抱树的疯狂呐喊、一通电话逐渐勾勒出一个不幸福，且有些神经质的女人。但在剧情的推进上也太拉垮了吧，浪费了演员的表现力。为女演员的情绪感染力加一星。
只要接受这个神奇的設定 後續的發展都能猜到 顏值還算是不錯的 不愧是島國奇怪的腦迴路 男主在被男高中生勒脖子的時候 突然激發求生欲 也算完全忠於設定了
整部电影充满了压抑无聊，中年无爱婚姻让人异常痛苦。女主的演技太强了，每个动作表情都在状态里，越看越心疼，希望能够释放出来，脸上写满了痛苦。越是痛苦，越是寄托在灵修上，越是依赖越是放不下。就像最后婚礼的出租上他们之间巨大的黑色深渊，无法逃脱。
焦俊艳的脸两颗星
冗长的片子，冗长的节奏。体现了婚姻是坟墓。外面的人想进来，进来的人想出去。怎样能让自己不在婚姻中成为一个神经病呢。住了那么大的房子了，有那么好的生活了，两个人呢，一个寻找“精神导师”，用大树，钟声和大叫来舒缓压力，一个呢，找小三，找鸡，玩失踪来证明自己的存在。主妇日复一日的做饭榨果汁刷碗不原谅。没意思，总的来说就是婚姻生活太没意思了。无趣的两个人，无趣的生活，简直不知道人到底为什么要结婚。得花钱雇侦探监视自己的老公。抛去这些，无聊无意义的生活本身就够让人喘不上来气了。说别人什么呢，如果自己的生活轨迹也被这样拍成电影的话，能比这好吗。自己的问题都没有解决。
虽然拍得很差，但情绪还是保持住了，两大原因为：铺垫不够，小帆戏份不够，做成双主角会好点。部分镜头语言有点意思，比如气球那段，但整体上设定老套，场景粗糙，主题意义不明，故为失败之作。属于那种有潜质，但没拍好的电影。
看过就是记录了老年生活的一些琐事，老夫妻就是形同陌路，很无聊
修行，从来不是去寻找依赖；
荤段子合集，搞笑的地方蛮多，爆笑的地儿也有，但多数时候是尬笑😂。
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