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.
崔老师真是神级影帝，撑起了一整部戏，其实剧本不咋地。小演员也不在线
如果老师能让学生了解学习的乐趣，而不是为了考试高分，或许。。。。。
应该是个好电影，演员表演也非常真实。但看得很压抑，现实让人一言难尽。
cliche但是 我还是被结局和erdbeermilch给🚬是不是（）或多或少都对他德存在什么幻想啊…？
开头节奏太慢，差点儿没耐心放弃了。中段开始好看起来，几个人物表现得都很立体，但结尾就太弱了，让本片回归3星的水平。
有韩朝背景、逆袭成果、对功利应试的批判，然而观感模糊，较为平淡，比较深刻的片段是脱北者说出关于数学的思考和乐趣以及脱北者与儿子之间的冲突。
应该是想借鉴闻香识女人的桥段，但是塑造的人物和人物的背景实在是过于沉重，以至于剧情没有办法圆满呈现，以至于只能通过拼凑的情节来自圆其说，并不能令人信服，部分剧情线，比如男孩女孩的感情线，其实多余。
啥呀这是 还等着看 完美出逃呢 咋挣扎半天还沦陷了呢 别那么现实好吗 ！
很不错的一部片子，字幕再完美一些就好了，主演很棒，师徒之情有时候的确能超越世间大部分感情
还以为虎头虎脑的男主会成为一个革命者，没想到背叛了自己的阶级。但他作为一个赤贫者，能受谴责吗？ 像圣保罗这样的血汗黑工，我们90年代广东某些工厂也应该存在过。还好，电影中的黑工没有被铁链锁起来。 世界如此不公，发生过无数次阶级革命，可是革命过后一切如旧，不过是换了一茬人罢了。
韩国大众电影的特点是故事的讲述非常吸引人，无论拍法如何套路，观众都会始终沉浸地看完，胸腰部电影的平均素质过硬！以及崔先生的演技实在是太好了（和天才基本法的故事有点像，代餐实在好磕）
有钱果然是可以为所欲为的. 不过女主为什么会喜欢上男主, 有点莫名啊
翻译也翻得很烂，数学抛弃者翻成数学家，哎呀呀！
农村青年怀揣梦想到城市打工，遭遇黑心老板。一到之后就收缴身份证、手机，非法拘禁，限制自由，克扣工资，稍有反抗就暴力相向，有逃跑者严惩不贷。遇到政府劳工部门检查，就胁迫劳工配合，蒙混过关。
简称找了个新儿子/父亲的温情故事。外加喜欢钢琴的小女孩，一起学数学悟出人生道理，很有共同语言，真好啊。当然其中少不了挫折，韩剧给颗糖再加一把大刀的稳定套路。另：结局还是皆大欢喜的，可喜可贺可喜可贺。
而主角，主角只要选错一步就是万丈深渊，问题不是他这个阶层能解决的。
且不论民族自尊心和各种尴尬牵强的设计，最后落脚的主题不错，但铺垫不够吸睛和优秀，总体来是处在不自然中的普通展现。
节奏一般，剧情可预见，最后一段讲话太low了。顺带评一下豆瓣没有的夜叉：3星，yy的有点严重啊，在大沈阳那样打打杀杀还能全身而退？但看着挺爽的。这次两大影帝剧本选的都一般
简称找了个新儿子/父亲的温情故事。外加喜欢钢琴的小女孩，一起学数学悟出人生道理，很有共同语言，真好啊。当然其中少不了挫折，韩剧给颗糖再加一把大刀的稳定套路。另：结局还是皆大欢喜的，可喜可贺可喜可贺。
在卢卡喝得酩酊大醉时，马图斯唯一的一次机会可以杀了他，带其余人逃跑。但马图斯放弃了，并不觉得是斯德哥尔摩综合症，也不是被卢卡“驯化”，而是马图斯更清楚，这个“体系”有多大，到处都是卢卡的人，卢卡在其中也只是个螺丝钉。所以，他为了家人“背叛”了老乡。无奈，但可以理解。在这样的处境下，谁能做得更好呢？
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