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.
这部真是难看 jo好好看 英雄哥怎么发面了 本来这种光靠颜值和doi戏的“五十度灰”电影就只有这两个卖点了 剧情可以直接忽略 可是为什么英雄哥还发面了 女主倒是更好看了 doi也难看的得要死 以为两个人已经开始貌合神离了 在外都有其他人的程度😅 怎么女导演拍的还不如男导演
青春一定要在hot tub里面make out吗🤔
你以为它是一部爽片吧，但笑点都是尴尬而无效的，动作戏和大场面也几乎没有了前作畅快淋漓的创意和快感。 你以为它是一部纯粹鬼扯的胡闹片，却偏偏“故弄玄虚”地在那搞着史诗感的影像气质。 你以为它是一部战争片，但反战却只停留在牛津公爵“口嗨”式的人设，大家都在以不同的方式让战争持续发生。
抛出鬼扯历史，动作还是精彩的，感情还是到位的。
到第三辑了~出于某种神奇的心理，依然对系列有着殷切期待。这辑真实让人发懵的是Hardin的行为逻辑越发趋于原始人类，生气哼哼哼-撩骚嗯嗯嗯-上床啪啪啪-生气哇哇哇-发疯啊啊啊-哭泣嘤嘤嘤-原生家庭呜呜呜；要让女主陪着这么玩，已经相当错乱。希望Tiffin赶紧找个和熟女谈恋爱的年下小奶狗片/剧，不要再在这一区被反智剧本摸爬滚打了（仅剩一部倒计时!）。而且比贵MEN.com家晚一年多复刻《艳舞女郎》的水中段落，真是吃X都赶不上热乎的哈哈哈。
打开之前我想说，这部烂片怎么还有3，打开之后我全程都在“这部片里每个人都有猫饼吧”，看完之后我想说，我鄙视（快进着）看完了的我自己...（但是有4的话我大概还会看看这群人到底又要发什么疯）
eng..好吧，当院线小电影看，把王丹妤看害羞，哈哈
to be continue... 表示很惊讶！他们的感情似乎升华了 却又如一开始般脆弱狗血 反复地误会循环 感情终将混乱 却仍追求忠诚以对
“不要说‘也’，因为那好像表示我同意你”
这样吧，我给你们十块钱，你们别再拍了行不行🙏
看不下去 受不了 男女主的颜值都抵挡不住我对这部戏的无语
hhhh救命，看了又好像没看，整个一流水账，里面有些剧情莫名其妙的，好在颜值尚可打发时间不想费脑子可看
我三岁的时候就看过这种剧情了，可是我已经不是孩子了
加入了一战大背景的前传，既失去了正传轻松灵动的特色，各种阴谋诡计在大时代背景下又显得幼稚儿戏，两头不讨喜的结果就是不吸引人，难怪票房扑街。好的地方是制作认真，战争部分也做到了高质量。
代表了先进电影工业的高级娱乐体验，同时稍微串联了一战史，俄罗斯妖僧的打斗方式实在太欢乐了（除了中年卖腐有点措手不及）！最后，也为近年来因大批小将涌入豆瓣为所谓的zzzq恶意抹黑电影及电影人感到扼腕叹息。嘴上是强国，内里却充斥着小人。豆瓣电影的分数参考属性也要渐行渐远了。
比2好看，拍成连续剧了，剧情好慢。。。。。。
？是有啥大病吗？因为被抢了个磨坊（好像？）结果就混成了英国高层？然后手下势力遍布世界？王牌特工是怎么越拍越回去的？去年世界范围的商业片怎么都跟闹着玩儿似的？
我去……the Fray 的那首歌出来就有不祥的预感…果然……请继续狗血下去！
我就说怎么这部除了男女主之外的人物我都不认识了，原来是除了男女主都换人演了……经过了前两部，我到底还在期待什么？
结尾好雷。。。
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