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.
人到中年双双失业，刚好命中近期失业潮焦虑，虽然片子没有切实可行的结局方案也没有逆风翻盘但却意外的搞笑和治愈。毕竟生活方式有那么多呢～
share house这波安利广告真不错，把生活残酷的一面展现得轻松温馨，不容易啊，有点太童话了。所以没钱咋任性呢？
很现实啊，没有足够的养老金，那就卖掉房屋去老年公寓合租吧！死后没人来参加葬礼，那就办个生前葬礼吧。日本已经开始探索老龄化社会的居住方式了，咱们也不远了。
有点沉重的话题却拍得很喜感，三谷登场的那段太搞笑了，没想到看上去普通的日本家庭生活如此艰难，结局却有点理想化了～
又好笑又温情。
75/100 影片最初诸多大号字体的画面混入就奠定了喜感下的焦虑基调，在后续一系列糟糕事件纷至沓来之际，苦中作乐逐渐沦为一部“家庭&社会恐怖片”。但预置的基调终将意味着“理想化”，失业、婆媳矛盾、财务困难等沉重困境被一一击破，还被感动了一把，鸡汤虽假，但足以慰藉
＃2022年42
養老沒有一定要4000萬日元 也可以有不同的方式 比如合租生活 但中間兒媳和婆婆的摩擦仿佛是另一個故事..
这大概就是10年20年 30年后我们国家养老的样子。
最后，为了天海佑希看的这部片，竟然还默默埋着她在宝冢演男役的梗，而这个帅女子，真是把“人妻”演出了上下铺兄弟的感觉[破涕为笑]。电影最后，后藤夫妇搬进了共享公寓解决了养老问题，忽而想起天海佑希说自己不愿结婚的原因是不喜欢家里有别人……所以说，喜欢独立空间的人还是要努力挣钱
整个看下来故事流畅不错，不过想表达的东西可以说是完全没有传达出来。。。养老是个严肃的事，发生在她家的事没有以小见大到cover住这个大主题。
这真是睡着了都能吓醒的噩梦，感觉我也要像海报里的女主一样泪奔了～
也是蛮无聊的，但没有养老金是不行已经开始担忧了。
用這種輕鬆詼諧的方式，似乎是講這種沈重話題合適的方式，但中間有些段落似乎有些跑題，更像是主婦總動員。不過這種實在的問題終究無解，還好電影提出了一個算是最重要的辦法，改變主觀的意識，至少少幾年恐慌和焦慮。
本来以为是严肃题材，结果拍成脱离现实的温情喜剧。强大的阵容多加一星吧。不过点心的老板娘怎么会不存钱呢？这个太刻意了。而且他们家其实等于完全没有收入了啊？！😱最好笑的一幕是草笛光子对天海佑希说你这样的进不了宝冢。
一个个需要用钱的困难扑面而来，同时又面临双职工下岗，所剩的存款也逐渐窘迫，总体确实带点喜剧的色彩，完全不压抑。
虽然女王和叔都是我喜欢的演员，但是这种题材怎么能拍的这么假这么混淆视听呢。。。做什么老年化政策推广么。。
虽然最后的部分略显平淡，但是这种充满生活气息的片子还是让人看着很舒服。
与其说是拍养老金，不如说是中年危机。 父母的葬礼要体面，儿女的婚姻要合适，不敢生病，不舍得买包，丈夫没谱，五十多失业，单拉一条出来都窒息，没法解决，最后用强行温情挽一个结。 但姆们跟人家还是不能比，姆们个人养老金呢，人家再不济独栋，周末上一上瑜伽，五十岁还有人收兼职，来咱们这儿试试。
这练了个什么瑜伽 太傻了 哈哈哈
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