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.
这个行业内早已经过度自我暴露，没有秘辛，辛酸欢乐连吃瓜群众都知道，内幕故事拍得越姿态严肃就越平庸自恋。海报就完全剧透了三个主演的角色故事和表演，毫无惊喜，女主的表演甚至几度流于轻浮。如果坚持行为艺术，把戏中戏干脆拍成两部电影，这部作为纪录片，那么画面的精致和两部电影彩蛋式互相呼应的丝丝入扣，会成为最好看、最有嚼头也最有噱头的纪录片。可剧情式戏中戏？算了，靠疫情拿个友情分吧
突然想到国内要是拍一部讽刺国产电影的电影就绝了
冷漠、麻木、压抑形成的恶性循环，可以说是一个非常“日本”的故事，尤其是自杀女司机及其母亲。
2.12 全員‘歇斯底里的社會’題材日影樣板「みんなどうやって折り合いつけていくんだろうな」结局父女某时眼中一样的风景有点戳
看的过程心一直揪着，很难过，也很难受，比前些年看《海边的曼彻斯特》还难受，因为这部影片里所有的人都在道歉，都在忏悔，都背负了沉重的枷锁，所有的人都是受害者，所有的人也都在直接间接地加害别人，所有的人都是痛苦的，到底谁才有资格原谅别人？到底谁才应该被原谅？
直接把讽刺值拉满，《主竞赛》能不冲进主竞赛吗？看Penélope调教性格迥异、方法论不同还互相看不顺眼的两个沉迷于雄竞的男演员实在太好笑。布景和构图很对胃口，三人演技精湛也不用说。看到最后原来人生如戏，戏如人生，演来演去演的都是自己。
所谓不幸，大概就是所有的各种各样的有形的无形的伤害一点一滴的堆积起来，最终杀死了一个女孩。谁有资格去指责任何一个人物呢？指责之前先假设自己就是这个人物，站在他的立场上，自己会这么做？
缓慢而悠长。2022-2-17 00:05:53
玩我！？？真以为得癌症了，我还想发展这么普通，然后…演的好好（鼓掌！立体化讽刺，绞碎奖杯那里我笑的想死Hahhahah
十分讽刺当今电影现状--倒不是像老马丁说的那种电影院被“主题公园”电影充斥着、挤出了“艺术电影”或者真正的电影。大部分的好电影，似乎都会参加某种电影节。电影入围之后，就可以在片头印上那个电影节的logo。进入“主竞赛”单元则更是种荣誉。片名不止于此。两位男主分别代表了传统和学术派以及流量和商业大制作的对立，他们之间的竞争也是现在威尼斯电影节主竞赛单元之间的竞争。除了母题之外，诸多细节也颇有趣味。比如戏中狡诈的弟弟杀死了踏实本分的哥哥的桥段在戏外得到实现。学术派“大师”的漂白牙，我们也可以在发布会女导演的口中见到。导演们为了表达电影到底有多虚伪，上述例子不一而足。最后提出的电影究竟何时终止的问题，则像是在说，作者停笔则“作者已死”，但是电影
父亲偷偷扔掉女儿“攒”的化妆品让人想到一个词：期待可能性。女儿去世，父亲才去慢慢去了解她很真实，片尾在遗像前放iPhone和看画作（看到同一个海豚云天空）细节度拉满了。
2.12 全員‘歇斯底里的社會’題材日影樣板「みんなどうやって折り合いつけていくんだろうな」结局父女某时眼中一样的风景有点戳
4/10 东成西就，像AI生成的影节开幕片，说是佩内洛普导的我都信。各种层面而言都滞留在自说自话，情景无从构建，解构与倒置不过是自娱自乐的空谈
真的好笑，也嘲讽了一波，很特别的片子，不过看的累，演技痕迹很重。
真的是“肉眼可见”的演技了。精心编排下的喜剧爽片，回归讲故事本身，太有意思
威尼斯主竞赛第七场，之前看的都是虚假的主竞赛电影，这部才是真正的《主竞赛》！！！
钝刀杀人。片中人互相折磨，然后一起折磨观众。而结尾那套硬凑正能量大和解的转折让人感觉在看国产电视剧。
对骂那段
最精彩的部分在开头，女导演跟富豪讲述剧本大致是什么
但凡觉得精彩的，都是来自演员们的表演。剧本做的也挺工整和诡异，这个诡异是个双标。但的确是真诡异。潘潘更适合拿这个封后吧。
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
