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.
H“因为这是我的包袱，我不想加诸在你身上。”
救命啊 到底是什么精神海洛因能让我一天刷三部TaT
看到有第四部我人都傻了 这个真的有票房吗
没看懂，小成本情色电影的优点就是剧情可以随便有性就行，仍然有人买单的，当然这是对制片方而言
怎么一集比一集尺度小了呢~腰部以下都没啥镜头啊~失望~~~~
各方面都非常讲究，打乌龟主教那段还挺邪魅的。黑各种敌对势力蛮爽的，反正认真就输了。大英神剧不为过😂
真的也就是后面能扳回点颜面了，可惜砍头不喷血，实在不够暴力美学
Hardin是专门用来给Tessa添堵的吗😅控制欲太强了吧😅这都不分手我不理解😅剧情越来越狗血，合理怀疑这系列拍到现在就是为了让他俩每次doi都解锁一个新场景…（srds他们颜值好高我好爱）
。。。
主角保留 边角料配角换人 至于剧情 what the fuck 1744
美帝日常黑苏联黑共产主义，以前还能黑得有点水平，现在是越来越不走心了。王牌特工这个系列我一直都不待见，看来不出我所料要烂尾了。
。。。靠性来维持爱情，，别搞笑了吧。。不过十九二十岁，嗯，那就当做可以吧！
如此弱鸡的最终反派，怎么配得上领导拉斯普京和亲爱的弗拉基米尔伊里奇…?
除了俄罗斯舞那段打斗，没有亮点。编剧一定觉得自己相当机灵……
卡司、动作戏和马修沃恩各种恶趣味还是水平在线的，剧情就像过山车，但也没什么太大惊喜（比不过正传的烟花爆头。原来裁缝店是这么来的，初代的成员们看起来还是挺不错的。拉斯普京战斗力太强了， 还能边跳舞边打架kkkk 给Duke治腿那段太涩了 救命❌🙈结尾一点点迷惑 不过不要紧 王男3就该开拍了…
看到有第四部我人都傻了 这个真的有票房吗
阴谋论又不敢展开想象力做戏剧化表述，故事张力差，强调白黑结合，可人家欧洲的黑人大多数和白人信仰不一致。这是拍出海扁王的导演。。。唉
在电影院看的，剧情傻得一塌糊涂，软色情依旧，酗酒的父亲寄宿在女儿家，母亲结婚前一天与另一个男人乱搞，另一个男人是儿子的亲生父亲，什么乱七八糟的。
明知很烂但还是看了……快进看完，只能说一部更比一部烂。
妖僧怎么治好的腿？最后初创成员中年轻小胡子是谁？
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