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.
你在桥上看风景，看风景的人在窗子里看你。螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后。一个套中套的故事。导演具有拍情色片的潜质，如此题材却拍得活色生香，让人忘了这是个惊悚片。因此前半段情节推进缓慢，只是到了后面，才画风突变。
配乐很棒啊，友情表达我觉得比皮克斯的《夏日友情天》都好。希望新时代继续出电影。
没别的，身材是真的好。女主的身材不得不说惹人垂涎，太棒了！！！
本来四颗星，因为最近看多了烂片，五颗星吧。画面很美，虽然是童话但是并不无脑，成年人也值得看。个别场景很有小时候看动画片的温馨感和安全感，这是很难得的。权力让人变坏，以讹传讹容易有大误解，小伙伴同心协力才能其利断金。独角兽的紫头发太白富美了
看到有sydney和刘承羽就决定看一看 确实不错 就是前面有点拖沓 一个半小时长度应该正好 之前看亚马逊的夜曲就觉得sydney不错 没想到这个片子还是亚马逊出品的 ps突然觉得刘承羽特别像亚洲版的blake lively
Friendship is literally magic！
虽然已不是小孩的年纪了，但是小马宝莉是永远的最爱，影片画风明朗，欢快活波，音乐非常好听，作为老人了，也被这部影片唤起了童心，是一部老少皆宜的影片。
主角团有着完全随机的三观，尽管大家都不是很道德，但还是维持着表面上良好的亲子关系和迷之友谊。大概是小马宝莉版的encanto，讲述了没有魔法的人不知为何尽心尽力帮有魔法的人找回魔法，主要区别是演出和编曲差了好几个档次。这年头子供向娱乐动画电影都这么难看了T-T
英文原版的歌曲真的好好听！！说唱部分也超可爱！！！
1.说话时故意将门牙抵到下唇的方式 2.从白莲花里一路带过来的伪婊感 / 有点生厌
同类型可看《爱奴》《作家》《追随》《迷魂记》。这里边露点镜头不是一般的多，千万别和家长一起看
偷窥是打开他人和自己内心黑暗世界的大门。现代社会其实每个人都在偷窥别人，通过网络。千万别掉进这个无底黑洞。
女主角的身材简直是在犯规，不对，是在犯罪。
很喜欢的一部电影，越长大就越是怀念童年的感觉，适合和家里的小朋友一起去看
有一说一确实对爱过G4的人不太友好，看新世代M5总会不禁联想带入M6人设🙉，最重要的是看完真的会意难平，G4为了友谊努力了9季，最后还是付诸东流，与和煦流光挑拨后的世界可以说是毫无差别，所以种族间无外力干涉的情况下还是会本能放大差异的吗，“非我族类，其心必异”?真心觉得G5过于刻意放大种族矛盾这部分了，想念Lauren。。。
2021.09.25 看预告片的时候发现自己比预想中更容易接受，与G4相比风格变了很多，之间的衔接很棒，也算是有了一个交代吧。不知道是否因为时间限制导致故事结束得有些草率，不过问题不大。结尾有G4的味道，也让我落泪了……很期待他们之后的故事。
没有反转这戏确实挺难收场的，因为主题实在单薄无趣。但这个故事如果出现缺乏符合人物行事必然动机的操作只会使剧作崩的更为明显。没有刻画人物内在潜意识心理焦虑的笔触做支撑，此类类型片想言之有物并逻辑自洽还真是不太容易。
ps：最大的发现是宝藏女孩西德尼，这就看《亢奋》去了。
正值暑假，小马宝莉再次回归，一部适合大人的动画片，小马们都非常可爱，配音也十分贴合，剧情简单但极具教育意义。
昨天带孩子去电影院看的。还不如平时看的小马谷好玩。孩子不爱看
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
