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.
PTA这部属于是那种看着也能看，也不会煎熬，然而看了一遍也就看了，记着一些画面，记着这个简单的故事，只是心里和情绪上都没留下什么的一部电影。这些年（始于Phantom Thread）的PTA不知道是咋了……
在电影里拍电影，前后起伏有趣味，虽然是可以想见的剧情走向、人物设定，不过依然是个可以博君一笑的国产喜剧好例子
虽然有些地方的确挺尬的
和《私恋失调》一个调调，一连串事件串起来看得是目不转睛，但可能确实也没讲什么。。。Alana很灵！
2022.04.18
三星半。致敬《雨中曲》部分拍得很美，但个人觉得大部分的笑点都有些弱智，看多了略尴尬和无语。。其次，剧本做得粗糙，有好几次转折都太生硬了，人物关系基本没建立起来。不否认服化道做得很有风格，但这似乎只是对原版的继承？
真的又长又无聊，那种70年代的酷劲都被说烂了，还一直在拍，没啥新意，不过年代还原感还行。
骨子里依旧是一个充满「反美国梦」的PTA，电影童星/商人几乎就是人类世俗化的标签化转变，女性的奋斗起源于情感最后又称为情感的奴隶，让本片的现实主义大打折扣，本身就成为一种臣服市场的媚俗，或许也是一种「直男癌」泛滥的特征。
我直说了，恶臭boy:)小到十五大到六七十的男人都是一个德行:)男凝的还不明显吗。
三星半。致敬《雨中曲》部分拍得很美，但个人觉得大部分的笑点都有些弱智，看多了略尴尬和无语。。其次，剧本做得粗糙，有好几次转折都太生硬了，人物关系基本没建立起来。不否认服化道做得很有风格，但这似乎只是对原版的继承？
当警察都去抓捕嫌疑犯，只有我去营救白色裤子的你。当观众都在聚焦摩托车，只有你来扶起摔坏吉他的我。我是倒车一流的女司机，却应付不了感情没油的窘境。你是舌绽莲花的推销员，却售卖不掉彼此试探的真心。越南战火连天，石油不断减产，政客在掩盖真相，演员在编织谎言，只有你说不会忘记我，是真的。
太欢乐了哈哈哈哈，给意大利人当翻译那段简直一绝！！！
ps，男女主真的看不太出来年纪差了十好几岁
喜欢，对这种复古美式调调毫无抵抗力。毕竟就冲着PTA的调度都足够满足，倒车戏一场就够我爽了，谢谢！
喜欢。70年代的风，随着时代浪潮前行，一来一往的推拉真的让人心潮澎湃，像是在看那种最经典的爱情喜剧。而也时常会担心太多，比如深知他们身处于不同的年龄阶段，会有不同的目标和理应不同的生活，男女主分别做出的几个抉择都蛮有意思，能看出逞强和成熟，也能看出美好的爱本身。虽然只是短短的几个月，也值得一个HAPPY END，最后真的太快乐太快乐了，像是要融化在风里。4.5归5。
复古轻快又很真诚的爱情小品，镜头调度还是一如既往的迷人，男女主表演很自然…
7.5 1.像Phantom Thread一样拍点奇怪恋情，几个段落与蓝色的光稍微有点Punch-Drunk Love的浪漫，但故事和Inherent Vice与The Master一样松散冗长，你也不知道拍了这么多人这么多东西到底在干嘛，此外全是songs和running。2.Sean Penn的角色是William Holden？而Bradley Cooper是Kris Kristofferson？Alana Haim长相确实有股Barbra Streisand的味道，所以最终又是搞The Long Goodbye是吧。3.演职员一看：Philip Seymour Hoffman的儿子，Steven Spielberg的女儿……
看完预告片：这是什么啊？ 看完全片：这到底是什么啊？
Good directing. Boring film.
想到的是《不羁夜》，这样的拍法对PTA来说太容易也太安全了。完全无法把它和《私恋失调》做对比，后者的运镜和男主角的躁郁症是完美融为一体的，而这一部里缺少让人眼前一亮的镜头。另外，青春片配大卫·鲍伊的歌曲日剧跑，三十年前卡拉克斯就用德尼·拉旺做到了极致，PTA搁这cosplay呢？
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