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.
The thing about art is that you can't force it. It's a lot like love. You should just let it come to you and not be afraid to be vulnerable.
Gosh I miss college!!!
情怀满满 特效够劲，羽毛类恐龙的逼真实现可能也是特效的里程碑。但坏人还是脑子不行，最厉害的恐龙总是要狭路相逢。上集最大悬念的恐龙DNA女孩还是沦为工具人。既想照顾粉丝又想用大场面吸引路人，只能靠各种“巧合”不断推进剧情，就是显得有点傻白甜。
1.5 实体特效做得很棒。剧本基本用脚写的。精华全在预告里了。
题目的意思，立夏是由纪反面的存在吧，名字也暗示了这点了。但作者这种撒糖偏要加玻璃渣的作风真是够了
就……期待值太高了可能
唯一的问题是内容有些散乱，有点像cut合集。真冬唱的那段太好听了!
又长又碎又累的大杂烩。不明白为什么要在侏罗纪的世界观上混搭一个蝗虫危机，电影解释不够合理，一个试图利用蝗虫控制粮食生产的boss，何必花那么多精力来养恐龙？主要人物太多了，到最后主角集合，一句话甚至要五六个人接力说，观感非常累。老演员也没用好，老男主全程心不在焉，只想着怎么和老女主复合；混沌学教授更是像得了老年痴呆，任场面再紧急也像无事发生……剧情推进也很孱弱，恐龙追车戏占了那么大篇幅，结果只告诉帕帕小女孩被送去哪儿了，有效信息太少了吧。进入主题慢，前面铺垫太长。巧合也很多，所有人总会在需要的时候恰好出现，翻车能恰好翻到主角身边，霸王龙又恰好出现了。黑人小哥上一秒还在和boss斗嘴，下一秒就准确得知主角位置并汇合……影片最后还不忘来一场恐龙battle，恐龙全面沦为道具，财富密码真是玩明白了
这两年在影院看过的最好看的几个电影之一，现在在影院看好电影太难了……
可爱的，虽然我觉得吵架那里的分镜是不是以前用过? 总有一种既视感... 天然克一切啊，真冬就是无敌的(
Rowan在剧里笑起来的时候 所有她在ins上设立的高冷酷姐大屁股人设会瞬间消失 回到了girl meets world时期的肉丸小甜妹😭
轻松快乐的cliche发生在queer主体上就是一种进步！（女主每次说她是artist我都好尴尬为什么）
有点短，有点莫名，前因后果交代的不清晰，歌没有正剧里那首有冲击力
无论怎么想，前男友情结都是对立夏的不公平。
没有30年前惊心刺激了，那种大气不敢出的观影体验已经没有了……
看完劇場版回來才發現原來唱的是成年組的故事。感覺還有下一集！好開心！
可爱的，虽然我觉得吵架那里的分镜是不是以前用过? 总有一种既视感... 天然克一切啊，真冬就是无敌的(
前半段是《侏罗纪：速度与激情》后半段是《侏罗纪：初代二代一起拍全家福》。IMAX效果不错，各式各样的恐龙和新的公园制造了大量的冒险和刺激，也有新的奇观。和《虫3：英雄无归》一样吃情怀，老粉被磕到，但剧情扯淡，文戏无聊也拖沓。整体作为新三部曲完结篇算能兜住。
挺爽的，女主顶级milf。暑假最后也是唯一的好莱坞大片了，再见
怎么说呢，有点boring，get不到她们之间的心动的那个点？
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