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.
A24的套路：一个传说，一个经典故事，搭配一些宗教的神神叨叨氛围。
这层厚厚的北欧神话皮囊，是制片厂相中的东西，也是导演最后的执着。想要更大的投资、更豪华的阵容来讲述自己的北欧民俗神话，罗伯斯只能投靠好莱坞大厂牌，而代价就是创作上巨大的妥协。《灯塔》中晦涩迷离的意象与拥有无限解读可能的出色视听表达不复存在，一个庸俗狗血的王子复仇记取而代之。全片尽是博噱头的血腥杀戮、网游水平的神话特效、浮于表面的卖力表演。其实没有“难看”的地方，就是看到一个有才华的导演进入好莱坞体制后“创作人格死亡”，难以抑制地感到惋惜。
一直觉得拿《钛》和这部类比十分不妥，显然这是两个方向不同的科幻故事，柯南伯格在这么短的篇幅没有说明这个故事的全貌，但是这恰恰把那种精英阶层、未曾敞开的艺术领域以一种开放的“库”的形式呈现出来，故事的场景、对白都以非常拉康的方式展开，纪录片式的人物对话让某些意义的滑动晦涩了不少，2022年还能看到理念这么牛的科幻片，牛的
2022-05-14
当恐怖片看看是不错的文化，就是闷了点（也就看了两周）。第一次get到安雅（真的很get金发）
有点血腥但又身体美学，感觉有一些哲思？但是好涩啊真的好涩啊🤤（蕾老师和k都好主动。。。k逐渐逼近v那段被涩到说不出话，浅浅解读出一些d/s的意味。蕾的身体好美🥺很喜欢两个维修人员里面高个的姐姐）
拍出韦斯安德森的味道减一星。对本片感兴趣的欢迎去看我在豆瓣阅读的连载，我也是北方人。
对白完全莎化了
说是哈姆雷特的原型，放在中世纪欧洲的奴隶制环境里，如此野蛮不堪。妮可戏不多，有点奇葩，安雅的声音这么年轻，跟后翼弃兵完全不同。
柯南伯格是真的对（被割裂的）人体有着近乎神圣的着迷，而平和稳定摄影则将这种美感与神圣准确传递给了观众（不管是否被接受）至于表达，不能说完全理解了，感受到了一丝现代科技与政治不太光鲜的链接，以及宿命论式的身体进化悲观论。柯南伯格（化身为影片中男主角）先是悲观，然后流着泪接受。
2022.4.22 bfi. 乏善可陈。甚至感觉是一部舞台剧。不少人物的表演停留在表面（个人感觉只有妮可基德曼表演得有血肉）。刚开始我在思考这是导演的原因还是演员的原因，尤其是开头扮演少年复仇王子的小演员，动作和表情真的是僵硬，机械化，像在表演一串串的指令，严重怀疑导演使用的是结果性指导。总体上相比很多年前看的惊艳的the vvitch, 感觉相差挺大，毫无新颖，略平淡无味。5
看的第三部柯南伯格，他大概在说两个主题：一是马克·罗斯科画作的注脚——白噪和“器官”（《大都会》）；二是，所谓“normal sex”之外，用现象学那套试图绕过精神分析、权力分析来为“新”欲望营建合法性（《欲望号快车》）
The Northman延续了Robert Eggers鲜明诡异的个人色彩，强烈且步步为营的原声带，触动信仰的摄影和美术设计，还有无限次惊艳全场的Anya Taylor-Joy，无一不给这魔幻现实史诗加分。
近几年我都以为好莱坞只能整些政治正确的烂活儿了，却又时不时祭出一些独辟蹊径的操作——比如在这乌七八糟的后疫情时代，居然复古出这么一部冷刀冷枪的北欧神话片（虽然总觉得又拾了一次斯巴达克斯和权力的游戏的牙慧），但这种经典戏剧结构百试不爽，从动画片到史诗片，确实套任何故事外皮都不突兀；另外大牌云集，摄影冷峻，服化惊艳；只是黄暴太浅尝辄止，不甚过瘾。// PS. 又见安雅，仙气脱骨，美的发指，怒加半星。
这剧本也太莎士比亚了，用现在的眼光来看可谓是极其狗血，最后一幕也没看懂，怎么突然就来了一场暗影格斗。如果这部片子想传达的是自由的意志或者通过复仇而引发的种种思考，那显然统统没有做到。唯一的成功之处可能就是场景的构造，弄得非常像一部旅游纪录片，可是有的场景真是暗得惊人，我瞪大眼睛都看不清发生了什么。或许在大荧幕上面看会更好，小荧幕看这种片子比较吃亏。
两星半，很一般，可能复古以及神话似的风格还算能看
武装暴力版哈姆雷特的悲剧一生，无论用计谋还是改编的暴力，都免不了悲剧结尾，这或许也是命运。。 （安雅胸大臀小喔）
还是一如既往的鬼魅和神秘，可惜故事后来的走向还是正常了些，可惜了那些怪怪的渲染。
我愿称其为viking action movie版的conan the barbarian，贵坞的ego还真是一如既往的大哦
史诗般的血腥，原始，与欲望。和沙丘一样在当下尤为难得，维伦纽瓦和罗伯特艾格斯都用自己方式，赋予古老的故事新的生命。复仇的怒火会因希望与爱熄灭，但为了守护这份爱，我们还是义无反顾的跟随命运丝线的牵引，走向自己宿命的结局。
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