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.
Ridley Scott真的只会通过堆砌素材讲故事了…尽管有那么几场戏还是可以拉出来看看的
我把你当好朋友，你把我当对象。。。
纯情叛逆傻少（？）男被心机拜金女主借机上位，整个时尚大家族被耍得团团转？？？虽然影片改编自真实故事，但是整个细节完全不能让人信服
大女主电影，就是不知道Gaga在干嘛。（2022-02-18）
在这段不被大多数人接受的亲密关系里，只要有一个人犹豫，就撑不到最后。
两个女演员挺好的，很有青春气息，只是如果已经做出选择了，就别揪着过去不放了，让前任当伴娘这个挺残忍的。
有些情节拍的尬到，我都看不下去了。。
在墨西哥城住的那个月有天无聊去影院看的西语字幕版，结果电影更无聊，哈欠连天撑到最后。
这故事水得别说雷老爷子，就是库布里克复活也救不了，除了最后毛里奇奥被枪杀的史实没法更改以外，其余的狗血情节换成Louis Vuitton、Prada、欧尚、万达等等任意一个家族企业都行。
豪门从来不缺少恩怨，因爱生恨与控制权争夺交织在一起，更是解不开理还乱。出局，入局，都是命中注定，抑或是每个人的性格及其周围的人共同决定。
Ridley Scott真的只会通过堆砌素材讲故事了…尽管有那么几场戏还是可以拉出来看看的
只想说2022年了……拍一部没有男人和父权视角强奸的纯les片真的不犯法哈。
毛里齐奥的悲剧在于其成为男人的欲望，而帕特里齐亚的悲剧在于其身为女性的事实。无论是哪部电影，雷德利·斯科特总是能够塑造出一个坚强、聪慧、优秀的女性角色，并将所有的矛头对准男权社会下的女性困境。所有的演员都非常成功地立住了自己扮演的角色，特别是Lady Gaga和化妆画的连妈妈都认不出的莱托。但用平铺直叙的方式讲述这个本身没有较大改编空间的真人真事再加上两个半小时左右的时长真的略显平庸和冗长了，反倒是浪费了这个极其有趣的故事，丧失了家庭斗争应有的抓马和残忍......
还有呀暗杀自己老公，像个黑恶势力，真他娘滴意大利。
有点拖沓，很多台词是为了煽情而说，还有许多莫名其妙的特写镜头。打高分是因为，同样的剧情，如果是男男的话，在豆瓣的分数一定更高（参考《刻……》和《心……》），这很不公允！ps:仿佛是在看陶虹和陈妍希谈恋爱。
4/10。以处女作来说，勉强算是完成了任务，但拍摄与剧作上的缺点必须要指出。首先滤镜实在太亮了，甚至有些泛白，还有下雨、沐浴的场景是否多了点？明白导演希望营造浪漫或落寞的气氛，但有些过了。剧作的问题更大，大量直观的旁白影响质感，电影同时是用来看、感受的，而不仅仅是听的。其次，不明白为什么要设立30岁再结婚这个期限，明明相爱，而且大学毕业后已经没有任何阻力（至少影片没有表达），为何要等到30岁呢？即便社会、家长不允许两人在一起，难道两人到了30岁就会允许了吗？
三星半吧，狗血但确实是青春了，啥时候能走出东亚女同皆苦的悲剧命运🥲
Gaga的演出油腻且表面，每次用力怒目圆睁的时候我总担心她的眼球会掉出来。
最戳我的场景是她俩一起看蓝宇，没有画面，蓝宇说的是“你可能不知道，我是真的喜欢你”
还行吧。。最后有点仓储。。司机第二个发型还挺帅的。。那个谢顶老哥居然是莱托演的啊
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