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.
如果带入人与人之间的爱情，这纯粹就是个爱情幻想；如果带入以色列和祂，我和祂，这就是我们正在真实经历的事情：我一次次背离转向你的面，但祢却从不放弃不停止爱我，对我说：One mile away,that’s home.You have free will.谁能这样爱我？唯有祢能这样爱我。
《暴走大事件》的黑法，每年的热点事件，照这个形式下去，能拍到《2025》。★★★
男主应该是ENFJ无疑了🫠
黑暗系小言。男女主都很好看，男主也很感人，故事也挺曲折的。但是为什么男主一个农场主那么有钱，可以不停去光顾头牌，还能说赎身就赎身？
女主被男主救三次再自己回去卖三次……多说两句解释清楚误会会死？
超越童话现实度的爱情故事，男主做到了第一眼的承诺…I will rescue you…
人类想进步就必须学会长跑，延迟满足感，但现在所有的东西都在做“精简”，恨不能两三秒内给你所有。完犊子。
回忆的穿插好残忍好残酷，但还好有荷西极致的爱恋，不管不顾的爱，看完才明白爱是放手，如果她还能回到你身边那她才是真的爱你，可是谁又能做到如此呢
感觉这是一个基督教片。男主人性的光辉简直了。说实话，前半部分非常很一般，男主爱上女主很莫名（当然，说是一见钟情就没办法了），女主也看不出有什么特别的魅力（除了容貌之外），但后半部分女主对自我的抛弃和救赎，对自我价值的重新认知和肯定，就演得比较到位了（女主演技不错，男主演技真的…就高高在上的自我感动感，完全看不出理解女主的内心那种感觉）。
在她信之时，她就得救了
' What did I learn in 2021? I learned that nobody learned anything in 2020. ' 没有2020好看 but still
一如既往阴阳怪气，讽刺得精准到位，笑得满地打滚。
7.6 “不放音乐，世界末日还不足以让人觉得恐怖吗？”是的，没有bgm的新闻不是好新闻，美国就娱乐至死吧。网飞你把这个系列拍到世界末日吧，我会一直追下去。我要看看电影里的白人还能有多蠢，我怀疑这是一个大阴毛（手动狗头）
虽然女主童年的遭遇导致不懂什么是爱，但还是替男主愤愤不平，看到结局大圆满的时刻，却仍是一种愤愤心情，恕我暂时还做不到。
不喜欢这样故事的内核：真实生活中真的会有人来拯救你吗，扪心自问。披着外皮的玛丽苏小说罢了。除了毒害女孩从小到大的思想没有别的好处。
中规中矩，剧情略老套，但男女主还是挺养眼的
很温暖的爱情故事，爱情的力量，我们越是爱一个人，越会想给他一个更好的自己，也会觉得自己配不上，而一次次走掉，真正爱你的人，是不会放弃你的，一个好的爱人，比找对心理医生还治愈。
怎么说呢，好似美好的爱情实际扯淡。影片想拍得唯美，但剧情不现实。不管是男人女人，在爱情中都还是有底线的…
能当贺岁喜剧看的伪纪录片。The era of predictable unpredictability is not going away.
一颗破碎的心，唯有无条件的爱和接纳才能修复；在遇到何西阿之前，因为童年的经历以及不断的被伤害导致安琪儿已经对生活绝望和麻木，对人也无法信任；刚开始何西阿的出现并没有让她觉得有盼望，何西阿一次又一次来，安琪儿的生命中才出现了一点亮光，重新恢复了一丝盼望，想要尝试改变一下活法；
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