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.
离谱都已经可以拍到婚后生活的地步了又怎么能给低分
温暖 有趣 真实 爱情之上有个孩子真的不一样 7.75/10
讲同志家庭的分崩离析！
太扯把子了。虽然很温馨也很扯淡。救命啊，求里昂心理阴影面积啊。
热泪盈眶 剧情发展的每一步都是我没想到的 又是一次极好的观影体验 愈发觉得 血缘只是锦上添花的点缀 爱，才是一个人、一个家庭的骨骼和血肉 聚焦点非常好 在同性婚姻合法化下成长起来的第一代青年 用自己的眼睛记录着他们父父爱情… 以及别人眼中的他 或许未来也会有两个母亲的家庭电影（哦，阿莫多瓦全都是） 本来觉得高光时刻已经很密集了 结尾爱的千丝万缕的连接 以及彩蛋（那部纪录片的片尾） 再次将影片升华 在我心中，它一定是有历史地位的
主角的朋友跟他说“欢迎来到现实世界”，一下把我从电影里拉了出来。每个人的家庭都不完美，电影美化了矛盾，用喜剧去包装，屏幕外面的我们乐一乐就好
9/10，保守的意大利却总能拍出一些有趣的的先锋价值的影片，当契约消失了，维系感情的会是什么，是一起共同生活的千丝万缕的爱与痕迹。保罗的普拉达，他的房子，他的公司简直太好了！里昂很像年轻的river Phoenix。
传统内核加新式夫夫关系，以及周围人和事各种错位，带来一些小幽默。
关于同性家庭的生活日常，看得我特别感动……终于不再是苦大仇深的同性爱情故事了，意大利已经开始探讨同性婚姻和孩子所面临的具体生活问题了，这个进步着实让人羡慕！！！电影中提到的各种成熟的观点，不管是从青少年还是成年人口中说出的，我觉得都很有思辨的意义，真好，这就是我们向往期待的国外的自由和开放吧。
假如把同性情换成异性情 那么这部剧又是什么样子呢
我猜到了我猜到了我猜到了我猜到了双胞胎哥哥喜欢男主！卫生间那段好像《在街上》几人组相遇那里，男主朋友也好好看，或者说全篇颜值都很高。
不知该如何评价，也许不管是同性还是异性，背叛总是常见的，反而和子女的感情更加牢固，但我们一定要顺从这样的社会，放纵自己的欲望吗？
啥家庭都那些陈芝麻烂谷子的事儿，倒也算是一视同仁地“恐同”吧。。。
这年头的青少年电影没有大麻酒精是不会拍了？？？没有长久的婚姻，20年也会走不下去，不管有什么矛盾，先出轨的那个总归还是理亏，两个爹都挺疯的，一个倒酒一个剪衣服；结局也挺搞的，两个爹都没有血缘关系，最后也算和平各自分开生活，Again，爱并不是靠血缘来维系的。不用二刷
内嵌的纪录片节奏比正片好，看到一些不一样的世界。
4.5 题材太好了，千丝万缕都是爱！无论是同性婚姻还是异性婚姻，其实都是普通家庭。很喜欢这部片子的节奏，笑中带泪，莫名狂戳我笑点；可以说是非常dramatic了，两个爸爸性格截然不同。
最近看的同性电影中这是我最喜欢的一部，搞笑温馨（？）又贴近现实。发达国家通过同性婚姻这么久，是时候该像这部电影一样讲述gay结婚后的经历，自我认同或者爱而不得属实有点乏味。这部电影角色都很养眼，两个爸爸的性格也没有脸谱化，很好。笑点密集，尤其是保罗，他在周年纪念日晚上吵架那段表现真的太可爱了。电影反转很多，有些稍显突兀，不过总体来说还是处于情理之中。结局还可以，不是合家欢大团圆，也不是物是人非的悲哀。我们总是希望生活能像现在这样永远稳定幸福，但变化总是会来临，接受它然后继续过日子，也没那么糟糕。
意大利的电影拍得如此成熟了，真棒啊！
太抓马了！狗血撒一地 当作喜剧来看还是有笑出来
我的天 好久没看到这么难看的电影了 糟蹋了这么好的题材
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