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.
舞台剧化的极简处理和特殊画幅的黑白影像让电影极具风格化，也让形式大于内容，布光、摄影、置景把野心和恐惧具象化算是影片的亮点，还有就是丹泽尔和科恩嫂时而慷慨激昂时而歇斯底里的表演。
挺难得的，拍出了一部不像是这个时代能拍出来的作品，光影等艺术效果绝到无话可说，黑白布景也让整部片子充满了舞台剧的风格。不义的事情需要靠无尽的恶来弥补，曾经的正人君子也会受到妖言蛊惑而再也回不了头。剧本虽然陈旧，很多台词放到现在来看也不是很能读懂，但是仍然特别有戏剧张力，权力与欲望的不均衡，是这个世界永恒的议题。弗兰西斯没有被提名为这届奥斯卡的最佳女主角有点遗憾，她把麦克白夫人塑造得太有立体感了。
真的是超级超级甜。很喜欢fiat小一啦。虽然副cp的结局不太好，但是他们两有新剧要拍啦所以结局没在一起。
狮子座真的好会！！！越来越喜欢first了…弟弟猫猫学长cp真的意难平。2022年准备出他们两的剧了！期待！！！
监视器外的眼睛。
原著和电影几度唤醒在Sleep no more穿梭的数小时恐惧，不是因为喜欢，而且因为熟悉，越熟悉越想靠近这份神秘。我也好喜欢这阴沉又光明的天空。
剧场中的摄影机，
22/1/19：能唬电影小白们又方便影评人士一起糊弄门外汉的
作为西方超经典，七七八八各种版本看了不少，只要不魔改，一般不会太差，这一版更像黑泽明和科恩西部片的舞台混搭
在经典文学的大山面前，从文本层面的确很难突破了。也许为了另辟蹊径，导演很努力地在影像层面上做突破，黑白的色调让画面变得肃穆，简约的置景让人物的肖像成为核心，还有古典的构图，这些让这部电影太像伯格曼拍的了。
因此凯莱布必须等待三个月的筛查期才能知道最终结果，而在这时，他又和另一名等待筛查结果的男子相爱了.....
3-25、26 well，高中读过莎士比亚的剧本，看了个电视剧，当然不记得是正常。看了那么多次SNM也没想过再去看一次麦克白的故事，现在看到有电影版，就100分钟就随便看看吧。结果到后面还是分心，实在觉得闷。倒是整个故事确实神乎其乎的，很适合SNM那种氛围，只记得麦克白要杀很多人，有预言什么什么的。就这样吧。
我居然很喜欢这样的莎翁剧，极具现代感的极简场景和莎翁的古英语台词搭配在一起有一种寓言感，完全是向着真实性的相反方向去做，这种脱离现实的感觉让人着迷，但我不太喜欢科恩嫂这一次的表演，一些小表情仿佛让人回到了现实，甚至是回到了冰血暴中，和整体的影片风格不甚般配。
巫婆演得特别好，但是片子选角、表演、美术、摄影有严重的错置感。内容还是莎翁，但形式上却严重过载。说是看了部电影，其实是看了部戏剧，但仔细一琢磨我可能是看了个PPT（大误）
也许是少年，也许是成长。
这是啥毫无观影乐趣的玩意儿？看一群大腕儿秀台词功底呢？就这布景，排成话剧不香吗，何苦制成电影还浪费一个黑白滤镜呢？
这就是那种明明质量很高但是你却喜欢不起来的电影，一是受不了如此之多的黑人出现在莎翁剧里，厌恶这种无处不在，不知所云的政治正确；二是受不了丹泽尔·华盛顿这张正义满满的脸，他演不了麦克白这种正邪两面派的角色；三是感觉看了一场舞台剧，而不是一场电影，虽然太多的画面美轮美奂#2022奥斯卡阅片倒计时#
而是翻譯的中文字幕著實有下了一番功夫，值得欽佩。
狮子座真的好会！！！越来越喜欢first了…弟弟猫猫学长cp真的意难平。2022年准备出他们两的剧了！期待！！！
非常美式的青涩的青春期生活，但是剧情好无聊... 分手-恋爱-分手... 感觉戳爷也逐渐没有青春的感觉了，但是色调和拍摄都很beautiful
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