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.
为什么有尼克洞？？其实猫片一般都不大好看，这个倒是比一般猫片更多彩多姿一点…彼得猫的装饰画风格很漂亮，就是猫本身细看还是有点creepy，不大吃得消…
在看过本尼那么多电影之后，我在这部电影中突然反应过来，其实他擅长的不是演天才，而是演孤独，各种与时代格格不入的孤独。难怪他不怎么接爱情戏，两个人的爱情戏真是他的弱点，但是一个人的爱情戏却是他的强项，因为只有一个人的爱是会让人发疯的孤独。
男主演的不像十几岁，没有少年感。
腐女舔屏向：工作短暂离别的思念丶大雨淋湿担忧的相见之夜丶忐忑互见彼此父母家人丶结婚典礼亲友们诚挚的祝福，CP粉丝们想看的都有了！可惜剧情美好得太像童话，现实不可能如此顺利，毕竟结尾也婉转表示：纯粹是安达(赤楚卫二 饰)故事书上的想像。★★★☆三星半
神神叨叨的，还挺好看的，最后一切都是love。。。lonely。。。connect。。。画的猫真好看，画画的唯一秘诀就是。。it is to see
导演到底搞没搞清楚他到底要拍男主的才华，还是男女主的爱情，还是拍猫，没重点就什么也没。
看了三遍!本片值得奥斯卡最佳化妆奖，最佳美术奖，最佳服饰，最佳剑姬，最佳音乐，最佳男主角，最佳旁白。2021年两部佳作上映，本尼堪称劳模!
人物原型很精彩，電影導演不行。作為cat lover看完的第一反應是去表白我的貓。
猫猫们是非常可爱啦。但整个片子看下来没有看明白韦恩的一生。
25/6/2022 8:00pm the sky / 感情昇華至精神層面 淡淡的很窩心
故事一般，不过卷福还是更适合这样的角色发挥。
看简介感觉奇奇怪怪的，因为有林允儿所以看了，其实是个还蛮感人的一个故事，饰演爸爸和姐姐的演员的演技真不错
油画处理的画面，4比3的画幅，画猫终于是找准了定位。片名的Electrical是电气之意，心中的电流是因为遇到了家庭教师艾米丽和陪伴一生的猫。
我的眼泪是不是真得不值钱啊，哎，看得偶老泪纵横啊！致敬韩国的影人！！！姐姐陪伴长大，父亲终生的遗憾，神童终于开化。一座两元车站，构筑的故事，虚构的，可情感的共鸣是真实的。致敬韩国演员！！
五星，8.5分。韩国电影在煽情这方面做得吧，功力越来越深厚了。以前看韩影，煽情就是硬煽，你不哭就演员先哭。现在自然一些了，最擅长的反转+煽情，火候掌握的十分好。唯一的缺点就是结尾拉的太长了，每当你以为要结束，它就继续演。
又是泪点拉满的剧情，只是火车也是你想停，想停就能停的吗？开始就疑惑姐姐怎么没有变，弟弟长大，姐姐还是那样，后来剧情揭晓的时候不能接受的也就看到这里了吧。
4:3畫幅的彩色電影，拍的很美。意外發現11年前留意過的電影黑色池塘主演現在已經是導演了！
看完也不知道奇迹在哪里 本来以为是个无聊的意淫的富二代追傻小子 后半部变成原谅自己相互谅解的江边的曼切斯特
一半描写爱情，一半描写奇迹，两条线没有什么交集，就像两部电影。
真的是泪目，没有瑕疵，除了有些尴尬的吻以外
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