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.
看小盆友的反应，应该是很满意…完整的一次看完，没有被吓着要走
2-11 你说故事也不复杂，人物也不多，相比较其他剧情片就很平淡。但是又因为足够私人，那些细小的情感，也能在不同层面打动人。彩色的电影院荧幕和剧院，电视里的电影电视剧，手里的Thor漫画书，所有的这些童年启蒙让他成为了现在的他。而我不也是从电影里开启了新的人生吗？回不去的家乡和童年，美好的家庭，在影片中展示的接近完美的父爱，不知道有多少戏剧创作的成分，自己也在想如果哪一天我能够用影像的方式重新讲述自己的故事，我会保留哪些真实，又会在哪部分增加和修改让故事更符合自己想象中生活。还有就是van morrison的音乐从头到尾出现，因为自己也喜欢他的音乐，所以更是觉得这部电影私人又亲切。
也就是正常的动画片吧，不过这个画风倒是不怎么习惯呢
比动画剧集要好看许多，至少有些地方值得成人看
姐妹俩直到歌曲结束才愿意离开[偷笑]
除了莱德的发型太丑了 其他细节都不错 娃喜欢
36/365 清明节看一部阴间电影达成✔️ 歌好听詹米多南帅 勉强能看下来
究极无语，说什么低龄动画，狗说话就看不下去？谁才是低龄啊你也不想想，照这么说市面上绝大多数片子都是低龄离谱设定，一千年前的古人都比你有创新精神
从孩子的角度，绝对是5星～电影中有句台词，英雄也会害怕，但即使害怕还是勇往直前的才是真英雄，孩子听了真的有触动～
第一次带儿子看电影，挺酷炫的，情节啥的OK，阿奇克服被遗弃的阴影在朋友们的帮助下找回勇气，贝贝的形象令人印象深刻，汪汪队比得上什么钢铁侠蝙蝠侠了…真的土豪。
爱丁宝人生中去电影院看的第三部电影。她如果会给星，一定给五星，她说非常好看。反正看喜欢的动画片总是连眼睛都不眨，我只能一遍遍提醒她“眨眨眼”。但旁边的小女孩一直在说“不想看了”🤪
一个少年眼里的贝尔法斯特街区故事。面对宗教冲突和暴行，孩子眼里的街头暴行，社区交往，校园初恋，父母爱情，家庭教育。让观众看到善良正直的一家人和贝尔法斯特60年代的生活环境。
8/10.
动荡年代的完美一家人：母亲靓父亲帅儿子可爱聪明爷爷奶奶慈爱全家三观正——既是对贝尔法斯特这个城市一封温柔的情书，也是用亲情和人情冷暖对历史伤痕的一次疗愈。只要有爱，不论离开还是留下，都是可以承受的选择。
正好和《燃烧》对比，属于导演功力没那么深厚，无法把情绪控制在自己想要的范围内的电影。第一个镜头完全没有表现出来轻松快乐的生活VS暴力冲突之间的强烈对比。导演用了很多很多手法，就好像是初出茅庐的新手导演想把所有技术都用一遍，然而却对情绪表述上毫无意义，音乐也配的奇奇怪怪。不过拍出了那种疏离感，确实不是景深的原因，很多近景甚至特写都可以，还是没有找出其中原因，可能和环境音有关？不行不行真的不行，玩花活可能真的是靠天赋，通过一些孩子讲一些犀利的故事和历史事件，可能老老实实拍，效果会更好很多，现在情绪被极大削弱了，可惜！！要是10分制就好了，都打了三星，不代表在我心中此片和《燃烧》分数一样。PS:爱尔兰口音太土了，好可怕，哈哈～
因为是私人记忆 所以还原“它”就好
选角很赞，连詹米多南都不违和。Irish music在这里再合适不过了。本来以为会很沉闷。结果轻松有趣（还是睡了挺久），要二刷/二刷，选角真好。小Buddy真可爱，喜欢这种娓娓道来的感觉
配乐很不错，里面出现的电影也很有趣，如果说是以孩子的视角表述这个故事，是很有童趣的，只是里面夹杂了一些很复杂的东西，让这部片子看起来也很复杂。如果只是讲家人之间的情感，同学朋友之间的小故事，邻里之间宗教之争，对于生养之地不想离别之情，这没准会是一部更纯粹好看的电影。
sincere and deeply moving
不用去和罗马比，每个人的私人故事都是不一样的。相比之下贝尔法斯特甚至比罗马更让我共情，最后20分钟爆哭。小男孩很灵。
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
