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.
故事讲得感觉有点虎头蛇尾，但并不影响后面在医院里的剧情。
电影开头对亲孙女米拉贝有偏见，甚至说出“你能帮的最大的忙就是站在一边”这种伤人的话。
儿时经常听这样的话，村口的“疯”女人；楼下自言自语的老婆婆，；教室角落独自面壁的女同学，都是怪人。异于常人带来了疯的刻板印象，性别的压迫带来了对女性的不公待遇。
看着太心痛了，girls help girls但是还是会有mean girls hurt girls.
虽然我不理解，但是感觉很厉害的样子，特别是最后舞会的那场景，荒诞癫狂，恍惚之间，分不清究竟谁才是精神病
很压抑的气氛也很新鲜的题材，到底谁是正常人谁是疯子，被几位‘德高望重’的教授妄下定论，信鬼邪便是疯子，女人的命运被撰在男人手里。细思极恐，可恨可悲，幸好结局还算治愈。但事实是，不疯魔，不成活。
股市来说还是个蛮老套的故事，本来觉得能达到3星，但是结尾实在是没能说服我，甚至让我开始怀疑最一开始两位女主的动机
看完不禁感叹这个社会给予女人的禁锢实在是太残酷了。想起了Virginia Woolf的书A room of one’s own。
进了疯人院，所谓的治疗就是迫害，疯女人们的舞会，是逃离的唯一机会。
You are more than the gift.最重要的不是什么天赋和魔法，而是自尊自爱自强。
痛苦强调的太刻意了显得不自然 舞会上的叛乱也有虎头蛇尾之感 结局逃跑很仓促 最后女主的书信极致暧昧 但是之前俩女主感情铺垫还是不够 无奈俩女主太漂亮了 四星
我的梅拉尼女神自导自演的第一部影片，很棒！！一刚开始觉得节奏有点慢，后来就慢慢进入状态了，女主演技很好，看见鬼就是疯女子，看见神就是显灵，男权社会的双标尽数体现
没明白为什么不一起逃走，为什么要一个换一个吗？
标个惊悚，一点惊悚也没啊，这就是个低分文艺片呗。期待中的反杀剧情也没有，因为标惊悚，以为得有个反杀剧情，类似把护士们都杀了，把院长甚至是她爸放冰水里冻死，让他们也感受感受，然而，什么都没有……不要乱标签啊喂！真是服了……3星是因为主演全果，饱了一番眼福。另外…女澡堂子里真没啥可看的。
剧作太蛋疼了……大概就是个非法移民奋斗史的metaphor，剧情感受不到什么思想内核，也没有抓人之处，TVB的《爱回家》都不至于拍成这样。比起去年圣诞看的《Soul》，今年圣诞看的这部真是……扶额再见。
到底誰才是真正得瘋子？ 看似正常的人，才是真的病人～
我很爱的镜头语言和服化道，主观上满分；客观来说，剧情以小见大也反应了一些事情，从电力发明应用到现在也不过两百年，这两百年世界进步了多少我们很难一件一件来叙述，但女性地位确确实实的有了一个非常高的提升。不过也很难想象，如今还有杨永信这种人和机构存在，与200年前的萨尔佩特里尔如出一辙。
虽然大部分相当平庸，但最后开门的瞬间，连平庸都不如。
配乐就是布鲁诺，躲在角落里无声无息地修补这部电影的裂缝。
整个画面就很高贵，Eugénie和Geneviève搞姬好不好😍
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