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.
非常喜欢这个"不完美"结局：虽然小女孩没有帮助队伍获胜，但是她勇于挑战自己，战胜恐惧，就已经是胜利了。(当然我这样说属于偏题了)
大失所望。作为圣诞剧，剧情cliché不是你的错，但是做到如此僵硬和甜度稀薄就是你的不对了。
hustlers 一雪几十年来的口碑后……jlo又走回了老本行【虽然是ok的romcom 并且真的非常量身定做 但是能不能换男主啊啊啊啊啊啊
Another fairytales in this modern world with the rough-cheap, electric-pop music. Which is kind of depressing. And i don’t see any match or spark between them, i mean they’re both excellent actor or actress but they just can make it a couple. It’s just boring.
maluma和卡拉斯科相似度得有80%吧！
老套的先婚后爱，只要有support就会有爱情吗？这是真的爱情吗？
虽然真的挺土的，但是有些对白确实还有点意思。另外J Lo真的好美啊！！造型也好好看，歌也好听，要啥自行车，可以了
I still don’t know her.
标准老套爱情剧本，而且没有任何情节高潮不知道怎么做到的
虽然都能猜到整部电影说的什么，但JLo确实好看，他们俩也有丢丢配，作为情人节的电影，也很适合哈哈哈哈
所以孤独的人是可耻的，是咎由自取，一切的根源是自私、自我，是一种恶行……
前一半还挺傻挺甜的，后半程简直刻意到不行，尽管这也是可以预见的，但是不太能接受“姐妹变男友”这件事，拜托你们住一起六年诶！有没有搞错！真的可能什么都没发生吗？另外这一大家子都是腐女到处嗑cp也简直了，就算要嗑的话，谁会对帅气忠犬狼狗say no呢？
竟有点感同身受，对那种和我有高共鸣度的人，我也丧失了勇气。
剧情太平了（只有我从男主脸上看出了川普吗…
3.5 歌是真的不错！jlo yyds
女主太难看了，脸型扁蹋，厚嘴唇，身材五短。
女主太难看了，脸型扁蹋，厚嘴唇，身材五短。
平平无奇，毫无新意。社交媒体元素过多，两星给詹尼佛洛佩次
《巨星嫁到.Marry.Me》真是烂片，J.Lo一把年纪还演这种傻白甜的爱情剧，实在没有说服力。剧情设计又十分荒谬，什么巨星到学校去教唱歌跳舞体验生活，简直像劣质霸道总裁文里的内容，看到这一段我实在忍不住了……果断弃剧。虽然J.Lo卖力唱歌跳舞还露肉的边缘，都无法让人忍受下去。
两个男主角的情感，还有归乡的话语都太像直人写出来的，但作为圣诞电影确实甜蜜。Luke真养眼
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