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.
这种腻在一起生活 具有相同的价值观和爱好以及相似的家庭背景 再加上只对同性有chemistry 才促成了love is love吧 另外同性之爱就一定是偷偷摸摸的题材吗 希望开放的文明国家能多拍点其他背景的片
这种信仰和爱人之间必须要背叛一个的典型txl归宿已经虐不到我了，只会把我气到
很有趣的片子 要么爱她 要么爱耶和华 得到的是真理 失去的是人生
宗教框架下的压抑和失控。洗礼doi还蛮疯批的。最后结局是要双双出轨的意思吗真的会栓Q
美好的爱情，扼杀于基于亲情的，邪教极端遏制。
虽然但是…..不要爱上侄女….要去结婚的拉子也不行❌
本来想打三星 sigh I don’t get it
闻不到荷尔蒙的都不能称为青春片。最后女教练一句“男孩练花游要阳刚”把我给噎住了，倒是符合有关部门的精神和审美。
靠，我直接泪崩了，诘问苍天真的要这么对我的cp吗！
2.5 褻瀆本該是刺激的但沒達到點上，加了宗教禁忌元素並不能擺脫百吐投稿般的平庸內核。Jaime長相我挺喜歡的
什么宗教？太邪了。学生时候的小行为真的好让人悸动
我愿称之为魁北克旅游宣传片，好想有机会去看看加拿大的秋天啊......看到里面的宗教情节每每感慨，不要爱抽象的人（or组织、概念、社群），要爱具体的人😢女主神似莱农...以及女本子的黑人好友是什么固定搭配吗😅（面子和触不可及里面都有
前面日式笑点的部分还不错，竟然把握了一丢精髓，但后一个小时进入原创就完全失控，强行网感强行抖音强行阳刚强行齁太恶心了，千言万语光线不行。
导演视听、表演、音乐审美都在线，难得能在中国院线看到一部各方面没雷点也不尬的青春片。但另一方面，人物和冲突的类型化又力道不够，过于平淡，除了结尾实在是有些燃点不足。
前边部分拍得很好，是那种青春的萌动，但从这部分的美好之中我开始怀疑自己爱的能力
烧女后比较喜欢的一部，宗教背景下的禁忌之恋（爱的力量很强大，让她们彼此爱上；爱的力量又不够强大，让她们在爱里分离），谁不爱青春期的悸动啊…厕所的背后抱，夜晚的背后抱，不放我走吗，浴缸洗礼，车内潮湿的吻…在Jamie身上看到自己的影子，但多年过去，生活截然不同的两个人，彼此仍记挂彼此的爱情难寻。
😭“not gonna let me go ”互相喜欢的人为什么不能在一起.哭了
这片看得我ptsd了😅这什么魔鬼现实剧情，撩完又选择结婚生子又吃回头草/想不清楚人生又什么都想要的人离单纯小姬佬远一点！！
同名电影的改编，无疑为《五个扑水的少年》提供了一个具有先天优势的范本，但也抹杀了一个关于青春故事在创作上更多的可能。从整体来看，这部电影近乎所有的优点都是基于原作的构思，而所存的问题则很大程度上源于并不够成功的嫁接，在失去了原作中夸张却不乏真挚的喜剧氛围后，电影并没有能讲好一个属于我们中国自己的青春故事。
（可能正是有过类似的暗恋经历所有那种心动才更让我感动😭，看的我稀里哗啦的）
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