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.
电影可能不太能让梅姐的忠实粉满意，但是能让不太熟悉梅艳芳的年轻观众看到她的一生，进而去了解她真正的生平，这是它的意义。总体上是一部合格的电影。
不知是否导演访问梅姐亲友搜集资料过多，整个人战战兢兢不敢取舍的样子，大牌演员也要给足露脸机会。随机穿插真人影像更是严重决策错误，在演员功力不够的情况下只会让人不停出戏好吗？不如直接剪纪录片。还好不花钱（
走马观花般看完梅姐的一生，后半部分甚至偷懒到真人纪录片段比电影片段还多了。作为电影来说确实拍的太流水账，但是也能理解拍这种跟我们同时代的人物传记片（还是大明星）真的很难，连人名都是英文。想面面俱到拍出她人生中每件事，事业、爱情、姐妹情、师徒情、公益慈善、积极抗癌，最后什么也没拍好，如果只聚焦于一两方面会更好吧。张国荣葬礼和最后的告别演唱会太好哭了，但也真的是因为真人真事而和电影本身无关。王丹妮演的还可以，但过于刻意模仿梅姐的表情，不自然，模仿过头了。
多一颗星是给这个时代还会拍“梅艳芳”缅怀香港女儿。但整部影片太过平庸：王丹妮应该是由头到尾配音，与同期声的古天乐林家栋杨千嬅好像两个时空对话；重要人物如罗文徐小凤等集体缺席，梅在娱乐圈唯一一个好友只有张国荣；按时间记叙流水账皆琐碎无重点，明明有大把真事却平添编剧敷演，如姊妹吃醋、近藤因事业悔爱；切入视角单一，王丹妮充斥镜头，没有香港娱乐黄金时代众生相一瞥，遑论按图索骥把玩细节；梅艳芳当年视频穿插其中却不得法，节奏断裂风格脱轨；梅艳芳鼻端下方人中旁边的一粒痣由头到尾在王丹妮脸上欠奉，但复刻《胭脂扣》时出现在如花脸上；王丹妮面相像第一届港姐冠军张玛丽，某个角度像tvb韩马利。
看起来很轻松，户外散步路过老房子拍的真好。妈妈是和boyhood里面的妈妈一样好
没想到BIFF闭幕片比开幕片还烂，看完也确实蛮感动，但所有的感动都来自于梅艳芳本人，和这个烂片毫无关系，越是被梅艳芳本人打动，越对这个烂片子感到无语
成长就是渐渐受束缚直到再也没第二条路，不能仅仅因为爱一个人就去爱。
与义无反顾的执念相比，更难的是稳妥放下的释怀。BTW：《五十度灰》我都还没消化完，约翰逊就开始演妈妈级人物了[捂脸]
还是没忍住。说不清观众的感情色彩、集体记忆与人物真实魅力“先行”了多少，影片本身作为传记片在素材的选取、编排和演绎上又努力做到了多少，但观感已经比预期好很多。王丹妮的表演足以令人惊喜，形与神都具备了。后半段穿插各种真实影像，情绪感染力翻倍，但实际上更像是导演的不自信。梅艳芳的形象和生平，与香港的起落变迁相互交织。是关于巨星陨落的唏嘘，也是一次对黄金时代的回望、感慨及对当下的反思。当中能说的，都尽量带着诚意与善意呈现了；不能说的，只能交给观众自行了解。
男主的眼睛看起来很真挚，挺温馨的一段露水情缘
其实挺走马观花的，不过加上音乐还有真人影像，很难不受触动，导演的技法也一般，而且很多歌手不敢用真名/hocc,草蜢,andy hui, william so等等
各方面都非常不自然。张国荣这个演员是大败笔
主创算用心尽力，但天后梅艳芳精彩的一生，值得更好的传记片。电影做了太多减法，对梅艳芳本人的再造流于表面，没能细究家庭对她的影响，成名前后、患病前后的转变和选择全无，又极大美化了日本男星和刘培基。梅姐对圈内对社会的付出也远不止慈善演出，比如组织艺人协会、对抗东周刊、北上促合作等等。梅姐的好友们，如今一个个均为人物，谁都知道她的好，谁都有关于她的故事讲，未来肯定还得有部纪录片。最后想说，也只有梅艳芳，于逝世十八年后仍然让粉丝们有所期待，谢谢你，Anita
梅艳芳，芳华绝代，天下无双，香港的女儿，传奇的一生。
🎯主题主旨：
及格之上加了情感滤镜。电影能让人重新 想起梅艳芳，让不认识她的人想去了解便是一件功德。其实电影用一个人生低谷链接起两个要回答的问题：她如何成为巨星，她如何成为航康的女儿。这两个问题都还算完成了。至于表演，王丹妮也算形神兼备，尤其是她接受郑裕玲采访的那个细节，说话的神态语气，歪嘴的程度，可以说演出了很丰富的细节。
后半部分总觉得有些地方不对，直到放婚纱记录画面明白了：演员直最后始终是一种柔的感觉，一种被大家关爱着的感觉，从气质到外貌都和开始无异，没有人物有阅历。没有历经世事的沧桑感。
好像什么都讲了，但又好像什么都没讲…隔太近的人物传记好难拍…
食物链的顶端果然是姐姐，暧昧归暧昧，但想要谈严肃婚恋就立刻人间清醒（没有贬义）。
各方面都非常不自然。张国荣这个演员是大败笔
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