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.
什么是青春？是一场梦。什么是爱？梦的内容。
hhhhh这是什么神奇结局啊！乍看无理 又确实和开头衔接得妥妥帖帖 我拍案叫绝
看了以后才知道是mana配音，原来现在是这个声线…！前半段不错，画面很美很宁静，后半段为燃而燃不太喜欢。妹妹小天使，对河童的反应超可爱^^
因为被推荐说是百合片才去看的，看完只感觉浪费两小时，什么鬼啊，百合片里还沾男人？？？我真服了
画面极美，治愈～ 生活很难，尽自己力所能及
也只记得画风了…ʕ•̫͡•ʔ
我去，这剧情厉害了哈哈哈，山田杏奈只比我大一岁，她真的好有魅力。首藤凛有点意思（ps.木村爱在美雪家里那场戏有被惊到）
虽然女主自私又任性 女二的三观跟着五官走 但是大丈夫是爱情啊
治愈剧 脑洞大开 里面的每一帧都可以截图当桌面 棒
两女主角颜值不错，床戏很唯美！！！最后一句“我们再睡一次吧”笑死我了哈哈哈哈
哈哈哈虽然玄幻元素加得有点违和，大boss打得也有点草率，但整体确实蛮治愈。景色画得真不错！
就还，，故事挺奇怪的。在一个失眠（？）的夜里看完，有一些有趣意象：比如千纸鹤叠成的樱花树，好漂亮；比如山田杏奈的眼，比如女孩重叠的裙子，比如接吻。大家演技都还不错啊，杰尼斯男优略拉胯（不是），但最后，就还挺喜欢这三人组的。虽然各自结局交代不明。或许这就是开放性结局？
3.5吧，没啥特别的剧情，慢条斯理的讲个故事
看到这种安安静静的日风动画难免会有点感动和感慨难得。老了真的想找这种地方安度晚年…平平淡淡过完一生。跟百鬼相伴也不是很恐怖，好像看到了夏目或者滑头鬼的影子…
还是很愿意给这部片子打四星的，在选角、性格塑造、节奏处理上都好厉害。亮眼。小爱的性格很突出，傲娇病态又可爱
非常喜欢神话部份大平晋也流派的呈现，我太爱了！和简单干净的现实世界的表现不会割裂，融合得很好。羊文学的主题曲真好听。考虑补一下川面监督的其他作品。
但是里面的烟火气息很浓，奶奶和两小只的相处也很治愈，我觉得这是最打动人的地方，喜欢慢节奏和治愈系的，以及有耐心的可放心食用，推荐一个人独处的时候在安静环境中观看。
2星给前半部分吧。腹黑女和小绵羊的设定我真的很吃，本来以为剧情是女主为了了解喜欢的男生，去接近小绵羊结果发现自己爱的是女生，对女生更感兴趣，然后2个女生人互相吸引在一起这样的性向启发题材。结果后半部分，腹黑女都和小绵羊亲了，睡了，竟然还能因为被男生拒绝而做出不好好学习，突然从教室跑掉这样极度颓废的事。小绵羊也是，你都和女生毫无心理障碍的亲也信了，睡了睡了，竟然还能说出要和男生去东京这样的话。看到男生因为父亲在家发疯，给女生打电话，还要女生护着的时候，我真的无语到了，他爸虽然不好但说的话挺对的，到最后5分钟的时候，2个女生都还围着阴郁的男生转，结尾却突然给我说，腹黑女还要通过和小绵羊再睡一次确定自己的心意，我真的谢谢你了导演，你这是恶心谁呢？？只有肉体关系没有感情算啥百合片？？？？
种种小情绪捕捉到位，台词矫情，女主真是太心机，角色立得马马虎虎，不如女二完整，6。
什么是青春？是一场梦。什么是爱？梦的内容。
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