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.
带小孩去看了，孩子非常喜欢。小虎墩太可爱啦。小虎墩义无反顾勇往直前的精神让人感动
不如雄狮少年热血，但作为贺岁动画，还算及格，剧情比较简单，适合带小孩看
为什么中国的动漫资源都在这些既没有才华也没有激情的人手上呢
虎墩这造型学的周星驰韦小宝吧 一般般 确实不太适合孩子看 孩子也不愿意看
这部片可能是春节档里最大的遗珠，排片也太过于低调了。
毒液日渐转为小可爱 和eddie小情侣撒泼吃醋顺便打坏人嘤嘤嘤 笑死 woody Harrelson天生杀人狂回归 有几场戏挺暗黑的 娱乐性够了 是近期比较喜欢的marvel了
带个帽子，起个名字就算虎年元素了。。。熊孩子出门自带闪电侠超能力，果然父母双亡的都不是一般人
绝对算是现在国产动画片的天花板，适合一家人看的动画片，精彩，绝对值得几刷
我和我女朋友去看的。旁边都是大家长，带着孩子，感觉怪怪的。我们的年龄非常小哈哈
情节老套 人设也不好
电影院观众对正片没啥反应，看到彩蛋都在欢呼喝彩。
戴虎頭帽的小虎墩好可愛，粉墩墩也像小成熟一樣，僅是潮流話语🥳
虎年的全家欢贺岁片。
这部片可能是春节档里最大的遗珠，排片也太过于低调了。
更加卡通，也更加保守，一种爱情观打赢另一种爱情观，或者说《天生杀人狂》式的“浪漫”和叛逆就此成为了过去，看似危险狂暴的主角实则背负着相当正确的情感理念，曾经的美国电影中的“坏孩子”们，正在被“扭转”为仅剩表面故作姿态的“三好学生”，话说回来，这部短小的电影究竟又有多少认真，也许只有那个预料之中的彩蛋，更进一步，可能仅是为了这段彩蛋而制作了整部电影。
救命，老套，建模也怪怪的，除了虎墩可爱一点，配音还不错，一整部剧围绕着当镖师，然后小孩成神童了，身手好的不行，离谱，但是动画嘛图一乐就好
带着孩子，大年初三去电影院看的，感觉蛮有意思的，等回头网上能看了，我打算再刷一遍，虎头虎脑的孩子，好可爱。。。杨大侠做鞋也有趣，哈哈哈。
连武功这么强的总镖都管不住的虎墩，造成别人这么多损失还不改错，还一直认为自己很厉害不服管教继续犯错，这不是给孩子树立坏榜样吗
挺好的啊 分镜好棒 剧情流畅 和亲戚的小孩看的都嘎嘎乐哈哈
片尾歌不错。
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