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.
▪️“阿伟，你残废是天生的，没有人会怪你，只会怪我。”
马马虎虎，煽情太过。也许国语配音太糟了，张继聪真的未来可期呀！
很励志很感人，扮演男主角的三个演员演的都很好，希望可以得奖。希望残障人士能够得到更多的关注和支持。
用力哭不如用力跑
即使评分很低，但我确确实实看泪目了两三处，最后的成功也很振奋
☝️ “一刹那的光辉不代表永恒”，神奇妈妈、神奇小子。
老旧的香港背景让我中途有跳闪到麦兜兜和妈妈的画面，好温馨。故事有层次，有泪点，有励志，人物表演也自然感人，值得带孩子去看一看。
电影故意煽情的地方好多，当出现一个慢放镜头加上合唱团自带圣光的BGM心里忍不住os：这里是不是应该要直接开始哭了？有些鸡汤金句蛮尴尬，但是和弟弟吵架那里有心疼到。另外拍出残障运动员困境的部分是亮点。
成功者有相似的努力也各有各的苦衷，但在我们唏嘘冠军唏嘘胜利的时候，二弟最终还是成为了家庭的“牺牲者”，所谓父母对孩子往往也有太多的个人“偏好”，虽然着墨不多但至少给出了探讨。同时又蜻蜓点水的探讨了媒体传播对人的异化——人有时就是需要作出取舍。
港版阿甘终成苏神。令人震惊的是，这样一部正能量体育片竟颇有岁月神偷之遗风
三星半，虽然是个已知结局的故事，仍会被感动，每个神奇小子的背后，都有一个伟大的母亲，虽然吴君如大多数的形象都是大笑姑婆，但在我心中她最好的角色就是岁月神偷里的妈妈，其实认真演温情戏的君如姐真的很可以，张继聪邋里邋遢的样子真的跟最近他的荧幕形象差别很大，不过钱小豪真的第一眼认不出了，天宝就变成了这个样子…
个人觉得要比同样是家长鼓励残障儿子跑步的了不起的老爸要好得多。还是佩服港台电影的工整度，一板一眼，步步推进，该让你感动的点，节奏、情感、完成度相当到位。真实自有万钧之力，在2008年我们都亲历且熟知的盛大事件中，有这么一个残奥冠军，关于他的成长，关于他的家庭，关于他的亲情、友情、爱情，关于他的骄傲与烦恼，这些接地气的东西只须稍作改动并配上一些高级的呈现方式，足以打动观众。
優缺點都好明顯，後半部節奏感覺好於開頭部分，比較喜歡的點是不像一般勵志電影站在世界大賽賽場或拿到金牌作為結局而把這當成了另一個開始，殘奧冠軍同工不同酬，得了冠軍一樣要面對生活的窘境，如果不去打工或拍廣告根本就無法繼續訓練因為政府補助只有每月3000元，作為殘疾人的媽媽在奉獻偉大的光環下的委屈和自私的一面，很多可以探討的點被點出來但卻又很可惜都沒能太深入，在更多時候還是陷入了套路的催淚與自我感動，演員表現都還是不錯的，作為本地小成本電影還是可以的，作為真人真事改編和關注殘疾運動員的題材鼓勵一下三星半
中规中矩的励志，残疾运动员训练艰辛背后还可能面临更严峻的经济压力。但是那时候的体制并没有很好地照顾到残疾人的生活。电影是说到了一些实际的现象，故事来说就有些煽情过度了。
最感人的部分是“真人故事改编”，里面一些话由于过于鸡汤而褪去了真实感，阿伟的弟弟从出生的目的就带着悲剧色彩。其中有一幕很生气，苏妈对方教练的妹妹说：“这条路这么好走，你为什么不走。”，转头又对阿伟说“我想找个人以后帮你剪指甲啊”，话里话外这个女孩子就应该看上阿伟而且作用最大可能是剪指甲，和被生出来是为了照顾阿伟的弟弟一样。
真实故事改编，挺感人的，吴君如演的真好，母爱很伟大，残疾人运动员太不容易了
吴君如同仔既对手戏差唔多场场都泪目，出戏主要目的应该都系励志吧，黑暗部分都系浅尝辄止。觉得可惜了，呢部戏宣传得好d，食住奥运个势可能票房可以好些少
其实我一直觉得国内拍不好这种题材，直到电影进行到一半仍是这样想，但后来发现电影的立意有一个意想不到的走向，不只是成功失败再成功的煽情套路。残疾人和运动员这两个词语不能将他概括，他也是一个感情丰沛的小男生，他很感激亦都好心疼妈妈，他有一份珍藏于心的美好感情，他有除竞技之外的生活困境，他不希望所得到的尊重如身体一样残缺。由个体到群体，为所有本地残障运动员发声，瞬间升华电影高度。所有演员都贡献了出色的表演，致敬respect！
根据真实事件改编，整体扎扎实实。演员演技突出，残障人士的关怀不得少。但我更在意的是有时让人窒息的吴君如的母爱，三星半。观影蛮沉浸的。
3.5 很港风，吴君如还是很适合这样的角色的~~ 演员们都演得很ok~就是这片子比起传记片还是贴合亲情励志片~
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