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.
能拍敢拍三星起，中间是有点惊喜，但是总之太长了，没必要。
媒体报道的真相不靠谱，公众的情感太容易被忽悠，尤其是在自媒体盛行的当下！！！从大学体制警察腐败种姓制度选举政治等等各方面揭露印度本身的问题！！！韩国电影和印度电影已经到了一定境界，敢拍但大佬们从来不改！！！国内的电影无法追求，不能拍不敢拍大佬们为啥要改！！！
结尾差点意思，总体来说很不错，看完了能引发人的思考。
电影牛逼就牛逼在能将女性处境、教育腐败、政治阴谋、体制溃烂、种族歧视、煽动人心、媒体操控、正义边界、法律公信等等这一系列我们一般都不会碰的话题通过一桩女教师命案完美的串起来了。抛开上诉题材不说，电影节奏、悬疑性、人物塑造方面都属上乘。
好糟糕劣质的节奏…不是好电影，哪里体现了敢讲？ 就像是营销号的知识量，也就糊弄天朝电影爱好者，大清都亡了！还闭着眼。
印度电影真的是越来越好。几次反转让人眼前一亮，还有深一层对种姓，政治，媒体的抨击。
这里面有种姓问题也有性别问题，但核心的还是法律程序问题。虽然程序正义未必就是实质正义，但程序正义是最接近实质正义的方式，没有程序正义，任何人所以为的正义也都是以为而已。
末日，老男人，一条狗，两个机器人。（哭个不停）
汤姆汉克斯老师演这种温情小品真是手到擒来啊
非我等动动笔杆、喊喊口号的“理论家”所能企及
印度电影在亚洲已经攀上顶流！
反转再反转的电影，人性真是个猜不透的东西
4.警务系统、教育系统全方位的腐败 司法系统是唯一的救赎
一波三折，除了印式bgm偶尔需要快进，160多分钟的电影总体还是挺抓人的。美中不足的点是内容稍显繁冗，个人感觉律师的过往回溯并不精彩，也没有太大的必要，全片最触动的点就是那个“头条”的诞生，而以学生为代表的群众简直就是乌合之众的一个注脚…（然而哪里又不是这样呢
突然发现了印度电影的法宝：通过宏大议题引发讨论，解决问题靠个别人良心，制度性问题完全隐形，满足了下层的宣泄，又替上层盖上了遮羞布。牛逼。
可以看出想表达的很多就是觉得节奏可以改改，前面铺垫好长最后十几分钟好赶
程序正义，舆论操纵，种姓倾轧，
印度的电影行业真的走在很前面，反转很可以，几分钟剧情完全扭转颠倒，法庭部分精彩，有被代入到啥也不知道跟着瞎愤怒的民众中去。
印度现实主义题材影片在题材震撼程度方面是越来越高，剧情叙述方面也更加庞杂，竟玩起了多重反转。美中不足是在影像语言和风格探索上始终原地踏步，甚至有些退步，不像韩影那样成熟多样。
落后的国家，落后的体制，竟然为了博取选民的投票而费劲心思操控司法和媒体，真是笑死我了，还好我在中国
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
