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.
就算不十分了解故事的背景，有一点却总能让人感同身受，那就是选择。人的一生不知会做出多少选择，换句话，人生就是在数不清的选择中歪歪斜斜的前进的。那些曾经让人感觉割裂的、绝望的、甚至是“背叛”的时刻，终将烟消云散，也终将刻骨铭心。如同爷爷下葬后，一个转折，振奋的音乐声中，妈妈在跳舞，爸爸在唱歌，奶奶和巴迪很快乐，但他们不会忘记爷爷，也不会因此让远走他乡变得轻松。只是，他们必须要放下一些羁绊，选择“Go, Go now”。他们的人生将因这个选择而不同，而不变的是爱：对亲人，对故乡，对懵懂的情感，对熟悉的一切，对未来......它如同少年巴迪手中的盾，和平时是玩具，身处险境时，
霏霏第一次来电影院
20220115 北京海淀工人文化宫 没看过前几季，完全不影响直接观看。合家欢的动画片。色彩丰富，狗狗们都个性鲜明，智勇可爱。在电影里阿奇也直面了自己一直回避的痛点，破茧而出，成为了更好的狗狗。专门跑了很远看的原版场次，几位大牌配音很棒
可能这就是拍时代剧能用的"最高级"方式了。虽不让人厌，但看过罗马，看过其他英国文艺片，就明显很东施了。
我毫无抵抗力的类型之一：generational drama，而且不是意大利人拍的（how rare is that!）导演是哈利波特第二部里面自恋的黑魔法防御术教授。
剧中人均爱尔兰文学学士的贝尔法斯特与其说是电影，不如说是一出戏剧，或者是离乡者的镇魂曲。神剧本！7
陪孩子看汪汪队立大功的大电影的时候，我心里就在想，果然老美的文化输出是一以贯之的，就是动画片也是英雄救援风格，外加童年阴影和克服童年阴影，不完美的英雄克服恐惧成为真正的英雄，跟好莱坞输出的价值观完全一致啊。
m21304：边界一直存在(派别互害)。家庭与周遭给与小巴迪的品质，让他不会像被涂污的鸟般成长。多处拷问：你想要什么? 很多人逃离，很多人留下，很多人迷失，地球依旧在旋转。
昨天晚上，我突然很想家。在外工作那么多年，突然很想家。
总的来说还算是喜欢吧，但看完这部电影觉得好遗憾，因为换个导演拍这个电影观感会好很多，整部电影给我的感觉就是不协调的感觉很重，导演从头到尾用到了很多电影拍摄的技巧或者说是方法，也致敬了特别多好莱坞（怎么全是好莱坞）60年代甚至更早的电影，但给我的感觉是这些电影方法是为了表现而表现，致敬也一样，对电影的整体发展并没有起到太多的作用，反而让电影显得有点奇怪。除了正午以外我真的不知道导演致敬的那些电影到底是在干嘛，可能是他在回顾自己的童年吧。不过本片优点其实也是不少的，剧本非常不错，群戏很出色，后半段拍的还是挺有感觉的。妈妈的表演最好，发挥也最大，爷爷其次，爸爸和奶奶的表现也都非常不错，但这个小男孩反而一般，有点缺乏灵性。最后吐槽一下疑似奥妙的广告植入，我真的有笑到
疫情期间，何以解忧？唯有电影🎬带着孩子去看吧…
剧情就是电视剧的加长版，可能由于是儿童电影，怕小朋友们坐不住，片场仅1小时多一点，结束还有种意犹未尽的感觉。画面很精良，狗狗车子真的无敌炫。
致敬《罗马》么？肯尼思的发挥嘛，那是相当得不稳定，这部就算是可以一看的水准吧，情感反而没有其中的技巧吸引人。少年感依旧很足的Colin Morgan，这造型也确实可以演爹了。
挺私人的。看得出是真情实意的情感
Kenneth Branagh非常私人的一个片子，全片黑白，只有在电影院和戏院里才看到了色彩，可见这些对儿时的他有多么深刻的影响。从孩童的视角看待1969年的骚乱，依旧是天真烂漫的。最后Judi Dench看着儿子一家坐在公车上离开的大特写把我催出眼泪来。For those who left, for those who stayed and for all those who lost. 整个片子的组成都是生活中很琐碎的细节，节奏有点太跳跃。
5.3 一个馅饼切成几块足矣，但吃前非要捏得粉碎（主观叙事碎片化）；糖少放点就够了，但它偏偏要搞得齁甜（配乐满得莫名其妙）；馅料看上去挺足，然而却不入味（尴尬单薄的情感表现力）；厨师忘记在表面撒上糖粉，还是不正宗（画面太"新"，像个做旧不彻底的电视电影）。传承于肯尼先前作品的舞台式布景，到头来还是如作戏般轻浮。M夫人与荒原老狼的罗曼史，乃观影过程唯一戳人的动情之处。提名奥斯卡BP不是离谱，而是谱子从中间直接裂开。😠
情怀还情怀，但是1969年的电影和黑白电视机有这么高清的画质？我是不信。
我们都会有自己最喜欢的故乡，即使它千疮百孔那是生活的地方，摄影风格好喜欢
开很远的车带小朋友去看的这部电影，一次不一样的观影经历
“你为什么拿着那种洗衣粉？” “这是加酶的”
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