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.
伤人的不是枪，是班卓琴和牛仔套索；危难不在荒野，在昏暗阴冷的农场大宅；最关键的人物没出现，是男主深藏心底的幽灵；雄性彪悍由脆弱感滋养，疯邪和清纯犹豫在一念之间。 从断背山、Slow West到The Nightingale，新世纪的新西部片没断过，而且多是非美国影人执掌。Campion的新作潜入新的深度，精彩算意料之中，但依然被其丰满的形式、克制的手法、全方位之杰出所震撼到。top 2021
给理想主义者一个警告吧，stay away from the power of the dog，警惕狗的愚忠，因为其价值观过于单一、简单，容易做出失格的事
7 简康平拍了几年电视剧 现在拍一部如此电影感的电影都有股电视剧味 确实不如血色将至 全片最出色的竟是克斯汀
三星半，和断背山完全背道而驰的一部电影，正准备断背山感动一下，结果导演完全打破这种情绪，结尾高能是最后的落脚点，观影过程并不有趣，但看后的回味就很有趣
你以为你在看“断背山”，其实你是在看“惊魂记”。善与恶，肉眼永远看不清。
（豆瓣真空期补标9月末-12月）死亡的意味在影片伊始便悄然蔓延。
8.2/10 #NYFF 本质上并不差，语焉不详其实无可指摘，最有魅力的莫过于这般莫名的张力，是幽冥的配乐与模糊的文本的共谋。时间线上的节奏的确模糊，章节的叙事也在前半段显得过缓，造成了“进入”影片的阻碍，但后半段便有柳暗花明之感。关于身份与性别上的波动与不定使得人物的本体失效，只是试图挣脱一种结构中的身份(马夫，妻子，西部新贵，男青年等)，并彼此拉扯(皮特显然成为一种可被塑造的身份，在萝丝和菲尔之间两难)。谈论爱是不恰的，更本质的是孤独与陪伴(逝去的和当下的)，也正与西部的地景契合。手/肢体是另外一层触点：剪出花朵的手亦可以解剖动物，策马的手指亦可以弹奏弦琴，但是具体结构并不算明晰，未能形成如《菊石》中对“触摸”的解构。
简导在人物情绪的表达上一如既往的出色，当然卷福与邓斯特的演技也有着至关重要的作用。但本片最出色的地方还是通过人物关系叙事，我们看着简导将人物关系慢慢拆解再重新组建，分解的构成十分细腻，重组的过程也足够感人。菲尔和皮特关系的构建粗看时十分突兀，但细想后才感受到那份用心。菲尔第一次招揽皮特的段落，简导用一个长镜头跟随着菲尔在嘲笑中穿行，原本处于嘲笑者行列的菲尔忽然对皮特转变了情感，怎么看都觉得不合逻辑。但正是这次看似平常却十分无畏的穿行动作，才让菲尔意识到这小子和自己是同类人。正如菲尔不愿与那些衣冠楚楚的上流人同流合污，皮特也是同样高傲的人，当菲尔带皮特看犬山后证实了自己的猜想。其实从电影开始就埋下了不少伏笔，只为这一刻的发生。而最后的结尾更让人惊叹，全片劣势的皮特才是真正拥有犬之力的人。
我一看就觉得peter有点norman bates的影子 果不其然 ……太雷同了……不管个性喜好家庭背景等等…因为这个让我对这电影有点失望 特别是peter的演员凭借这个角色拿了金球奖 而我家freddie呢？一个艾美金球都没有……
从表面上看菲尔暴躁易怒，傲慢粗鲁，常常展现出过分且具有攻击性的男子气概，是典型的牛仔形象，而彼得敏感纤弱，心思细腻，长着人畜无害的漂亮脸蛋加上弱不经风的身躯，是不受待见的娘娘腔。但表像背后看似强大的菲尔却有别人难以洞察的敏感与脆弱，他通过霸陵萝丝来宣示统治地位，却也会躲在暗处偷偷舔舐伤口，而看似乖巧的彼得在波澜不惊的神情下却藏匿着杀伐的冷酷与决绝，他能忍受所有异样的眼光，也会残忍的解剖可爱的兔子并精心策划惊天杀局。这么两个精神位面失常的极端主义者碰撞让影片沉浸在主人公莫名其妙又焦虑不安的情绪里，散漫的叙事以及支离破碎的情感纠葛让一个同性谋杀的故事看起来晦涩难懂，说白了其实就是“母诱弟，子弑兄”的故事，但又蕴含了极强的情绪，这也注定了有些人“见山是山”，而有些人“见山如狗”。
三十分钟就能讲完的小trick级别的悬疑故事 看了开头还以为导演雄心勃勃要重拍1948年版红河谷或者文艺复兴1960年代西部犯罪片 看了四分之三了还以为是个多角恋狗血感情片 最后发现全是胡扯的烟雾弹？所以吸引了大家去看这部电影的 所谓的“同性” 最后全是噱头？
隐晦而克制，俄狄浦斯，兄弟同床，忘年不伦，母与父，兄与弟，叔与侄，牛与犬
太克制也太缓慢了，这样一个说起来惊世骇俗，你撬我弟我就泡你儿子，且暗含乱伦，谋杀，反社会人格的故事，虽然刻意没做得欲望横流吧但也不至于性冷淡到这个程度，给我看困了都
很🐂 各方面的🐂 深柜当然抵挡不了干净美丽白衬衫的美少年
PS：或许奥斯卡最佳导演、最佳男配、最佳摄影，没跑了？
“He tried to destroy the world before the world destroy him.”
康伯巴奇的身上有浓厚的戏剧规训，因此是用力过度和不够切身的，我想他是用技术在演，而非用本能和情感，所以电影塌陷了。阶层对于母子（尤其是母亲）的压力和欺凌，太直露，所谓台词提到的拉丁语、希腊语、行走的百科全书之类，完全塑造成傲慢无礼浅薄的一群，不够高级。皮特的细腻和冷血的反差感，当然是导演致力处，叙事视角却一直旁观，不能真的进入人物何以如此的内心，用母子关系来支撑是很弱的。总的来说我认为电影平庸，想要表达什么和做到了什么，是两码事。我想他的选题是好的，完成是差的。许多球抛上了天，落下来的很少，砸在头上使人惊一惊的更少。
Slow and unfocused narrative. Pretentious style. The transition of the character Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) is unclear.
处处是设计，处处又不着痕迹，这就是功力吧
所以最后就是「娘炮」毒死「深柜」？Fine.正如友邻说的「难看到头晕」。我真的看不下坎皮恩。
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