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.
本片拍摄的主视角就出自男主角，而且是除了外貌一切都加分的完美人设，以至于让三个女人围着他转。倪虹洁演的富婆是哪根筋不对要找个不油腻的无姿色中年男人上床，吴越演的出轨前妻又是哪根筋不对要上竿子倒追前夫，就连全片唯一的独立女性马伊琍，经济上都供得起女儿上国际学校却要忍受跟老妈蜗居。合着女导演眼中的中国女性就这点儿眼力见了？怎么也该讲个三个男人追一个中年熟女的故事吧。
喜欢。没想到这么好笑。欧洲电影的感觉。好像也只有上海，讲这样的故事还算搭调。除了一地鸡毛，沉痛悲情，还是可以有轻盈的中年嘛。
华语mumblecore在沪语体系的醒酒器里开枝散叶。配角有戏，出彩；台词灵光，熨帖。成年人感情的讨论未见得多深刻，但够自在和欢畅。营销碰瓷伍迪艾伦的话，就底蕴和机灵都差了好几分了，慢慢来吧。
老乌和索菲亚罗兰的部分，大概是在说，老派的上海死了，但仍留有一缕残魂，一个欧式的梦。
没想到距离新年还有几天时，《爱情神话》这部几乎没有宣传的电影，居然成为今年在院线最让我感动和惊喜的作品。虽然违反了大部分主流商业片的规律，中途有人退场，但剧作中东方人的含蓄和欲言又止，上海的格调和品味，沪语软中带硬的极锋和会心幽默，对费里尼电影致敬的迷影精神，真就没见过这种东西。徐铮，吴越，倪虹洁，马伊琍，周野芒奉献了毫无痕迹的精湛表演，尤其是一段在餐桌上至少5分钟以上吃饭的戏，让人能联想出小说《繁花》里个别段落。支持饱含诚意的国产电影，希望这周能多排片，多买点票。
一星给上海话，听着真是十分亲切，一星给三位女演员，一星给最后那一幕。这部电影按上海话说就是蛮灵的，但请男演员做好身材管理，我不想看三个女人围着猪头三转。
能把‘一把年纪轧姘头’的市井故事讲得那么洋气，上海可以的。换个场景大概就是住纽约soho的大龄艺术家刷Tinder找date，约会要去off-Broadway看剧，然后一群人天台露台喝酒开派对的故事。
结尾好评，换我看费费的《爱情神话》也会看不懂加各种吐槽。
男人女人性别政治美食腔调异域迷影，当代人的爱情神话。
中年版的小时代。正如最后他们聚在一起看费里尼的那一幕，是如此强烈地肯定了某种单纯的社交麻醉对于生活世界的反向稀释，或是对朋友圈泡泡里的某种心理公约数进行无意识的复读（就取一个最低限度的交集作为“正常生活”永恒的活动空间吧）。以这种潜在的逻辑，爱情与亲密关系的主题自然也被转换成一系列浮在表面的“过招”与“游戏”，从而和彼此之间的深入理解毫无关系。从始至终，影片都在强化自恋主义时代的那套扁平的人际交往结构，刻意与灼人的真情实感保持距离。片中的角色心安理得，用某种都市两性角色扮演玩家手册里的提线木偶替换了真身，超越这层套路的复杂情感羁绊则被彻底否定。影片还通过几次居高临下的说教，反复确证那套“爱无能”的自觉意识，以及用看似市井烟火气的装饰物抹平了现实的坎坷，为所有都市人的空虚重新刷上一层漂亮的底色
太好看了！两个人包场，从头到尾笑得好大声！各种金句频出，各种致敬、讽刺、玩梗（昨天看的那部啥电影哦明明是翻拍宣传却不提，北电毕业然后卖电子烟，笑死个人！）最最重要的是完全女性视角（虽然主角是男性），完全是性转版的中年爱情故事！上一次看这么有女性意识的国产片都不记得是哪部了……
好难得有这样的不紧不慢絮絮叨叨。居然有这么多演员是上海籍？！全程跟读……
看了1/3才认出老乌是野芒老师，看到他大晚上骑车到一家名为“夜奔”的小店我简直要被这个梗笑死，大家都挺惦记野芒老师的林冲夜奔经典皮肤哈哈哈。
上海、上海人就是电影里的样子吧？这是我走出电影院后，萦绕心脑的一个疑问。虽然这部电影名字叫《爱情神话》，我觉得不是说爱情，更像是在展现海派文化。既有江南的古典和雅致，又有国际大都市的现代与时尚。种族多元，认知多元。连修鞋的大叔都在喝咖啡说英语讲哲学。还有混血儿，不，外国人都在说沪语，简直是笑死。印象最深的是他们第一次偶遇聚会，对吃饭剩饭家猫野猫的讨论，太搞笑了。观影的过程大部分时间都在笑，那个小玛雅很出彩。直到最后才认出老乌，原来是林教头啊。
非常智慧有趣的轻喜剧爱情片，轻盈洒脱，机锋暗藏；描摹人情世态，臧否两性话题。如江南精致小菜，甜酸适口，淡有余味。我的年度惊喜华语电影之选！
“这个世界上没有值不值得，只有喜不喜欢”，用朋友的话说，所有爱上海的人都会喜欢《爱情神话》
《爱情神话》告诉我们，把生活里细枝末节犄角旮旯的小片段搬上荧屏，会有多有趣，女人有了清晰的脸和不被人揶揄的情感表达，会有多鲜活。整个电影就是一个字：灵～
徐峥是个好电影人。倪虹洁、马伊琍、吴越在大银幕上大放光彩。导演好几出戏都写得精妙无比。更意外的是，那位曾演过豹子头林冲、在初中时莫名把一个小姑娘给迷得不行的周野芒先生，这么多年过去，摇身一变成了一个更加有魅力的风流倜傥帅大叔，这电影里真的太多惊喜了。
你要问我经验到的上海是不是这样，我觉得不是，但是纠结于还原度本来就是件愚蠢的事情。电影拍得自洽有趣，让外地人看了相信这是上海，浦东人看了相信这是浦西，闸北人看了相信是徐汇，这就够了。发明上海，让上海人都迷糊，以为自己还不够了解上海，这就是最好的上海电影。
难得国产电影也可以像日本一样拍比较家常、靠近生活的题材，超出预期了
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