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.
五条的那句唯一的好友真的戳心窝 娜娜明有几秒的高光！王道漫直球真好呀
hmmm 無感 打鬥遠比不上同期的鬼滅 不流暢 不爽 然後劇情就是狗血愛戀劇 在電影院看的 好想加速
朴性厚和芥见下々真是绝配 这东一榔头西一棒槌的视角切换 这高潮不了几分钟就突然养胃的叙事节奏 仿佛又回到看上一季巨人马莱战打着打着节奏一崩角色仿佛都掉线了的噩梦 换成别的导演还真没办法把芥见下々零零落落的故事完美翻译成零零落落的电影…
我大概七老八十了还是会被“和你一起死去”的纯情戏码打动到！
纯爱战士。。。乙骨和rika的感情线去掉的话我给五星 打斗戏是真的很精致 mappa厉害
忍不住看了枪版 观影感极差 等你上映我去补票
帅气主角&打斗场景 怎么说也比隔壁少年漫好，没有虎人悠杖剧情依然非常成立说明五条老师才是主角啊嘻嘻
纯爱战神，要上天的节奏，咔咔咔咔咔咔咔咔!
香菜没几句台词啊。还都是被扭曲的发音。结婚要趁早。主角成长曲线难以接受…最后boss战莫名其妙。大家直接拼力量来碾压太省力了吧…
我哭的稀里哗啦。电影放完了还在哭。高中着实在代入小孩们，现在看着夏油死掉一整个对高中最后的日子惋惜住了。
你以为被诅咒了 结果是你不想让她离开诅咒了她 有什么比拼尽了全力去保护一个人还浪漫呢 真的是纯爱经典 一群善良的人跟一群头脑异类的比拼
以为仅仅是为正传补个背景，没想到撒了我一嘴的狗粮，打戏精彩，文戏过关，咒术的剧场版完成度还是可以的。
0卷本身没多少东西，明明是个三集ova特意凑成剧场版，所以很乱，甚至分镜都照搬漫画。但架不住纯爱战士啊，bgm好听 （夏油杰骂骂咧咧推出直播间：（乙骨）你个骗女人的东西！！！
作者看世界的方式很奇特，但我不认为犹太和里香的关系可以称之为爱，这点夏油说的不无道理
看完之后只有一句话：他好爱他！！！！TAT
为了社交活动看的。看了三集动漫然后去看的电影。就感觉还行吧，不是很喜欢动漫的这种感觉，总觉得热血的莫名其妙，虽然确实有被一些美女辣到。最不开心的是熊猫莫名其妙开maki胸玩笑的那段，有必要吗，男人……
怎么说呢，忧太这个角色设定的不错，但电影剧情看起来太仓促了，确实不算是一部优秀的剧场版
没有看过漫画，所以觉得剧场版的情节稍显跳跃，逻辑性稍微差了些，但是打斗场面还是很爽的！
纯爱战神帅啊2333mappa打戏做得真不错。就是说悟和杰真是意难平T_T漫画好像没有两个人的回忆来着，电影居然把那个街道分别的镜头插入了（爆哭
很失望，碇真嗣类男主依旧让人着迷，但是剧情的混乱已经不是人设可以包住的了。咒术离神太远。
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