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.
也不知道是为啥呀。
上海封城期看的网络资源，意外觉的很不错啊……人活着，太难了。刘昊然演技了的，对他的印象大为改观！
看完这部电影的三个感受：
大年初一看的早场，真心喜欢。亲情友情爱情，励志热血温情，一样都不少。南澳景色好美，疫情结束后，一定去玩一次。昊然弟弟好帅，不仅仅帅，演技也是有的，前途无量。沈腾尹正乔杉很有意思，特别是尹正，已经成为他的影迷啦。浩存妹妹也很美，虽然演技差点，但是青春无敌，身上的清纯气息属实可以弥补演技。
没能理解男女主结局的意义，安排刘浩存死亡的剧作动机在哪？我没有在之前的叙事中看到关于死亡、宿命等悲剧性铺垫。这些小镇青年当然有生存困境和精神枷锁，但并未明确指向时代洪流或阶级压迫，所以刘浩存撞向代表虚伪与资本的SUV这样的象征性结局会产生严重的语意偏差，寓意需要被强行解读才能出现。包括尹正游野泳被巨轮撞死，无非也是想表达小人物被时代碾压的意思，但在这样充满喜剧元素的轻快叙事节奏中显得非常突兀。而刘昊然飞跃失败对这个人物命运的作用又在哪里？他显然毫发无损，却要安排一场看起来比较严重的事故，不仅没有形成与刘浩存结局的对比，还令飞跃珠江这样的高潮沦为一个无效事件。冯绍峰和高利贷虽然担任了主角去广州的动机，但人物本身是多余的，顺风车的戏更多余。后半段叙事节奏几近失控
台式小清新反转令人吃惊
10分
中规中矩，小甜剧，校花和黄毛那里我真的大暴汗.....其他都还好
配角都是大熟人，陈淑芳奶奶啦，陈嘉玲的麻麻啦，林柏宏啊，刘品言啊，女主也很可爱（小时候也是陈嘉玲的小演员），可是男主真的很没有学长气质，我站吉他社社长。结果看到林柏宏是上班族男主，气死啦，林柏宏完全可以演高中生啊，为什么林柏宏不能演啦
周末 阴天 整个人都被湾湾电影🎬治愈了 豆瓣评分也不影响我喜欢看这种安安静静很舒服的电影 自己喜欢就好
一时间很迷惑本片的受众，90后已经过了中二的年纪，不喜欢疼痛文学了。00后看这个不会觉得土吗？ 差点以为昊然弟弟也要没了。这片放贺岁档挺奇怪的，坐立难安。
蛮一般的hahahahah，可能我期待太高了。有时候跳戏到俗女养成记！
喜欢一个人一定要告诉他，最后真的气死👁️👄👁️
中后期有想进度条的冲动，女主让人略出戏，感觉去掉一些不知所云的感情戏，会好很多！还有结尾看得人一脸懵逼，就这？
含腾量太少，刘浩存太拉跨，少年感如刘昊然都救不起来
《四海》 一部关于青春与成长，悲欢离合交织的故事。
但好像有了那些年以后
其他的都噠咩🙅
拍的有些拖沓，人物形象不够饱满。但是结局真的很甜555555，色调也好好看。
仿佛是小学生写作文—一团乱七八糟，后半段明显开始摆烂，画面很美人也很美笑点还可以但也无法拯救稀巴烂的剧情，剧情之离奇转换之生硬人物之单薄令人难以相信，角色口中经常出现的莫名其妙不知所云又富有着不知道为什么要讲的哲理的台词，刘浩存太木了实在是
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