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.
一个反转再反转的电影，印度熟悉的抨击社会的题材，节奏和情节堪称完美
最惊喜的是老白到美术馆找两个女人那一段，布景和光影、台词、站位，想传递的信息，在国产电影中属实少见。
电影的观众画像应该是照着豆瓣来的，一群住在大城市的老破小里不工作的寂寞中年人，嘴上说的都是艺术，脑子里想的都是做爱，喝着打折的酒吹着当年的牛，连街边鞋匠都在谈论阿姆斯特朗和哲学，喜欢自嘲但拒绝批评，偶尔被拆穿要一顿爆锤回击，看费里尼的时候都在吃东西打瞌睡，完了再在社交网站给好评，如果加只猫就更完美了。
48:33 警察在街道上追捕犯罪嫌疑人的这个场景，应该是想表达，他们很低调的，不以警察的身份来追捕嫌犯的过程，因为前面有交代过4名犯罪嫌疑人为政府的党派做过一些脏活。但是在这一时刻警车离开时，并没有亮警灯，而音效师画蛇添足地加了一段警笛的音效，就和前面低调行事而相矛盾。
前半段节奏太慢，甚至过于拖沓……直到律师的出场才开始步入正题，氛围紧张起来，高潮接踵而至，层层反转实在过瘾，尤其是在扎实的剧本和台词下，几何倍数地放大了题材的优点。
导演给自己刷三条5⭐可以吗？
雪天一盆火，苦药一勺糖。有房、离异、文艺、颓唐，不爱出厅堂，挺会下厨房。男人共情的是我熬了半辈子鲫鱼汤也该老来one night stand，女人幻想的是我倔了几十年总会有半个肩膀一袋吃食。沪上当然是精致的摆盘，但每一个要素都戳在普通话审美霸权的肋眼上，你能怎么样呢？导演一等一聪明，端上一锅老少咸宜浓淡适中的汤。微信里来来回回差半步就是油腻，牺牲了老乌总算是有了妥当的圆场。中国每年应该有十部这样的作品，一不小心让它出头了，其实真不是故意的。
老实讲，电影想反映的社会问题有点太多，东一榔头西一棒槌的。前面以为探讨的是女权，平等，校园(职场)霸凌，后面又开始说政治手段，警官勾结。总之就感觉有点too much
里面要讲的故事都是好故事，但这部电影没有讲好这些故事。但还是感谢这部电影让我认识了印度，让我再次意识到政治的残忍和民众的无可奈何，民众只能被操纵不是吗，他们只能被给出的部分真相牵着鼻子走。以及，这部电影最后不还是落到了政治斗争上面吗？只有哪边获胜更让民众受益罢了。
妇女地位问题、教育问题、种姓问题、政治问题等等，诸多问题汇于一炉却丝毫不显凌乱，除了韩国电影，现在连印度电影都这么敢拍了……
反方律师和法官也有点弱，一个就在那听着，等人家说半天说完了才反对，一个是直接说秃噜了嘴，让人抓住把柄
最后律师啥情况没整明白，警察那段搞清楚了。好烦，拍的如此隐晦。
就是律师怼受害者母亲那段有点令人不适，人家老太太女儿都死了，你好好问话不行吗，还非要让她反复大声说出女儿被强奸了，不觉得残忍吗，她被媒体误导了也不能说是她的错啊
什么时候内地观众审美这么开放了？居然能容得下这样悬浮文艺视角下的中年爱情故事？女权台词这么多也没被冲？全上海话台词也没被喷？这种欧洲风格作者电影明明只有豆瓣er才爱看！江女士评价此片：男女还是他妈不公平。你看徐峥胖得跟猪一样还有片拍，剧情还是三个美女围着他转。你看吴越，倪虹洁和马伊琍一个比一个瘦，腿都跟筷子一样。一看就是为了能有戏拍没少饿着。
加强版的《爱情呼叫转移》，在上海人身上看不到普世的爱情观，而且全程上海话实在让人看得心累，语速快还牙尖嘴利，在方言里还是重庆话、北京话、东北话和粤语听着舒服。
所幸底色是徐峥。
民众的声音太好引导了
女人犯了男人的错误，只能夜夜跳探戈；代表男人向女人道歉，立刻变成香饽饽。
其实电影拍的比较一般，尤其受不了一直铺陈的不太和谐的背景音乐，这配乐就是一个目的，煽动你、刺激你，再就是那么多的慢镜头让人直翻白眼，好好讲个故事不行吗，估计是为了印度的电影院效果，最后就是这部电影触碰的话题，警察腐败、教育制度、政治操纵、媒体渲染等等体制的问题也基本都是被串联了起来的事件，并没有哪个体制的问题被真正的深挖出来，而且这些都不是一个人的问题，如果一个所谓的坏人投入到这样的体制里，不会有出淤泥而不染的人，两个小时40分钟，还是有点冗长。
看电影前看到有人做BGM整理的我：不至于吧；看完电影的我：下午那个帖是在哪儿看到的来着？？
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