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.
虽然知道是个主旋律片，但还是常为主角揪心。而且我们心里都知道，现实中主角如果一直保持这样正直和朴实，几乎不可能有出头之日。
太满了，为了达成精准煽情励志的任务，啥都往里填啊塞啊铺的垫啊，完全不让人喘口气啊（第一次看电影嫌音乐吵-_-）
最后获得了一个成功的机会
底层关怀是很真诚的，演员也都选得很对，能感到是很棒的团队用心做出来的好东西。悲哀的是这样的故事真的如片名所说，是个奇迹。这过程是无数现实叠加起来的，结局却只是平行宇宙当中最令人欣慰也最飘渺不可及的一个。
知道坎皮恩为什么这么低产了，如此细腻且需要极强控制力的作品势必会花费创作者巨大的精力，这要是普通导演早就放大同性和谋杀噱头了，可坎皮恩从头到尾在做减法，她不拍惊涛骇浪，只拍暗潮涌动，以及风暴过后看似平静的海面，而藏在海面下供人想象的冰川是庞大的，这种内敛的情感表达正好契合深柜之人的内心活动，而一些外在的声音设计恰到好处地凸现了不安，整个故事都是处在被压抑的状态下，哥哥对弟弟弟媳的压抑，母亲对儿子的压抑，同性倾向对哥哥的压抑，以及整个男权社会对女性和弱者的压抑，摄影也是一如既往的精彩，单亲母亲加钢琴让人穿回《钢琴课》。
1.妹妹完美受害者
电子厂的深漂
植入个主广告商不仅能盈利，而且能让大家更加代入角色的。。
奇迹是奇迹，但要当真，可能真就是小笨娃了……
6/10。有佳句无佳章，互换抽烟的暧昧与角力像《卧虎藏龙》里的竹林打戏。男主的死象征着蛮荒时代的终结，最后他穿着代表现代文明的西装进了棺材。血性西部背景下的东方隐忍，是好角度但并不新鲜，这可能是文化差异造成的。“答非所问已经是答了”，它依旧给了太多，像一道数学题而不像诗。（小男主前途无量啊，他与卷福的比拼才是场犬之力）
文牧野再次从小人物的生活入手，用略带现实主义的手法塑造了一个奇迹。在这个功利至上的社会，每个人的初心尤为珍贵，而更为珍贵的是超越血缘亲情的那份友谊。众人拾柴火焰高，只要齐心协力，我们就可以相信奇迹！
当然，这种前提是，电影试图告诉我们的道理，即一切都是合理的，一切都是都可以解决的。
四字演的真不错，文牧野也不容易了，把命题作文拍成这样，还留下了几处蝼蚁的意象，也尽可能用现实主义视角，及格了。
不想客观公允，我不管，就要给五星！为底层人被看见，被关心。虽然，美好的结局更像是编织的，可能的结局也许比揪心的过程更苦。四字看来真的是要当演员了，和其他的鲜肉渐远。配角们也好出彩，大眼睛小可爱，田雨一脸笑纹，章宇演啥像啥，还有那个追风少年太好笑了。
长兄如父，景浩和妹妹之前的感情令人动容。他必须成长，必须成功，因为如果不成功他将失去他最珍视的妹妹。《奇迹》并非成功学的心灵鸡汤，而是贴近现实的神话。景浩的成功并非个人的成功，而是奇迹小分队共同努力的结果，也是无数个辛苦工作的打工人的真实写照。
叙事节奏把握地不太好，有些过快，导致每个点都好像是浅尝辄止。
有很多场好看的戏，有笑有泪，单独看没问题，但串连起来并不成立，甚至有复刻《药神》的嫌疑。
电子厂的深漂
在三星和四星之间犹豫，几个月之前看的，当时想着写一篇长影评，后来一直没写。三个月过去了，才发现这部电影没有标记看过。这部电影时长不算太长，有一些节奏问题，同时，还有很多人继续诟病易烊千玺的表演。在这里，我依然是比较不客观地多给文牧野和易烊千玺一些期待分和鼓励分，所以，内心觉得这部电影6.5分左右，但是，还是给4星吧。故事有点童话性质，但是，我依然为此感动。章宇的角色，以及其他很多配角都演得很好。哪怕主角可能没那么好，但是，这部电影的整体演技是没问题的。值得一看。
70/100
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