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.
在这个时间看这种温暖的电影当然是很合适，life is experience的大道理讲起来简单，但被目标和日程表推挤的lost soul，就是灯红酒绿之下如同工蚁的大多数人的程式化人生。而生活的力量，是躺在窨井盖上时吹过背脊的风，是坐在椅子上被“奖赏”的棒棒糖，是在地下铁里被音乐感动到震撼的瞬间，是拍打在脚背上的清澈海浪……愿大家都重新感受到生活的力量，感谢今夜Pixar在我心中燃过一场烟火。
也许是在纽约生活过足够长的时间，对里面的每个细节感受更加深刻。Chelsea街头的疯子，Harlem理发店的壮汉，7号线座位底下的脏瓶子，地铁站的街头艺人……每个人都装着一个斑斓的灵魂。Your spark is not your purpose, it's the meaning of life. 其实每个人都在水里寻找海洋。
想起海子的诗：你来人间一趟，你要看看太阳，和你的心上人，一起走在街上。
PS:电影播完，字幕上来，一看配乐是我大Trent Reznor，难怪全程音乐都这么牛逼！
是我眼花了吗？动画片也要搞个有色皮肤，才能上映？
就……我真的不喜欢这种圣母感公知感爆棚的片子，说教太多，姿态太高。
被治愈了。还记得那个看到一片飘落的树叶就能被感动的心吗？我们都曾那么热爱生活！
很多时候你幸福，不是有多大的成就，只是因为一块烤得刚好的面包，一天阳光正好的正午，一片飘落到你手心的叶子。幸福仅仅是因为活着，因为几十亿人、整片天空、全部宇宙，都在沉默地陪你活着。
片子不错，道理讲得比较清楚。对观众来说，感悟力和行动力是两回事。有行动力的人不需要太多的感悟，就能过得不错。
亲爱的，爱就是我们的生命
“灵魂不会被压垮，压垮你的是生活啊。”三十岁的社畜看的内心澎湃，但为了维持成年人的体面又要在黑暗的影院里哭的默不作声。22迷失后，黑暗内里一句句话砸过来“你做不到”“找不到火花”“这不是目标，这是平庸的生活”和抑郁症发病的自我攻击好像…戳的我好久没缓过来。沉入心流和陷入执念只有一线之隔的设定好赞，基金经理被黑的又搞笑又辛酸XD～但故事和人物塑造还是比《寻梦》的完成度差一点点。
就记得小时候看过，再一看，果然看过。美术很中国，故事也很中国，连那夸张的动作都很中国。再看的感受是，怎么会这么蠢呢？怎么会这样，怎么会那样，骗小孩差不多。一想，现实里难道不就是这样吗？现在不会有这种动画片了吧。
3.5。凡尔赛动画，男主体验了得尝所愿，享受了人生巅峰，回头规劝大家平平淡淡才是真，能活着就是美好。？？？
我们从小被成功学教育要赢，要竞争，要升职加薪走向人生巅峰，却没有失败学教我们，如何面对输，如何面对人生的不如意。这部电影就是一部失败学，或者说是平凡学，教失意者者如何与失意人生自洽，教普通人如何与普通生活和解。年少时总想着给人生找点儿意义，人到中年，以及这不寻常的2020年，让我懂得，好好活着，与生活发生连接，这本生就是意义。
一.2015年度最爱《头脑特工队》，2017年度最爱《寻梦环游记》，2020年度最爱《心灵奇旅》，皮克斯又一次凭实力牢牢占据我心中最爱的三维电脑动画工作室的地位。二.我所深爱的电影、音乐、动画、家人……是我生命活下去的动力，如此说来，他们也是我灵魂的火花。三.非英语片的《寄生虫》在今年同时获得奥斯卡最佳国际影片和最佳影片后，偏爱动画的我就开始期待哪天能有部动画电影同时夺得奥斯卡最佳动画长片与最佳影片的殊荣，而在《心灵奇旅》的影院观影过程中，这个想法不禁再次油然而生。四.《寻梦环游记》是人与狗，《心灵奇旅》则是人与猫。五.看到那只过街老鼠瞬间就联想起《料理鼠王》，而路边街景则唤起《怪兽电力公司》《大眼仔的新车》的记忆，学校教音乐→《摇滚校园》，爵士吧→《爱乐之城》，……，被心灵学院段落萌化，准备二刷、三刷……
如何过好平凡人生的每一天？对我来说：不把得来的一切看作理所当然，感受生活，敬畏生命，怀揣梦想，让内心充实……
当我们习惯于沉浸在资本市场里而不自知的时候，皮克斯提醒我们活着不要太功利——突然想起前段时间的看到的那句话：每个小男孩童年的梦想，绝对不是买一套房子。可是，现实会答应么。
他突然发现，他为了他的爵士梦，错过了太多太多。
看故事前，就先被纽约城市逼真的动画质感震撼到，强烈的现实感仿佛在看真人电影，尤其是理发厅与地铁内的空间氛围最出色。即使主题依旧是皮克斯所擅长的“拟人化”与“生死感悟”命题设定，且有逻辑漏洞并不完美，他们仍然把这个故事打磨得老少咸宜、游刃有余，且深情而催泪。他们总能把这糟乱世界中散落的点滴美好呈现在观众面前，这次还有好听的爵士乐伴奏助兴，哪怕强行治愈正能量鸡汤也不突兀。走出影院，想到国产动画还只能在“封神宇宙”“神话传说”和“抗美援朝”中“崛起”，实在绝望。四星半
皮克斯又写了一篇“反好莱坞精神传统”甚至“整个美国精神传统”的心理学小论文，论题并不见得精深却总是捡起被成人遗落在精神角落的本质放在手心，一瞬的回响或者久久的回味。
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