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.
流水账似的煽情片，缺少故事渐进和铺垫，每个角色都脸谱化了。
看惯了只在结尾最后五分钟的那种大反转，这部电影的反转提前了整整一个小时，我只能用shock来形容当时的观影感受了。唯二的缺憾，一是配乐太烂俗煽情，商业片气息扑面而来；二是结尾找补过头了，没必要花几分钟的镜头快速切换堆砌出一条新的故事线。总体而言，肯定是我天朝没办法拍出的好片吧
好久没有静下心来看剧了，也看了不少印度电影，真的不错，至少人家敢说敢拍出来
一碗丰盛的麻辣烫，有女性议题，政治议题，媒体议题……警察冲动杀人确实一开始就不可信，果然反转了，律师那么神能弄明白事件全过程也不可信，后面也圆回来了，除了结尾有点理想主义喊口号，前面都很好，政治🟰黑暗，在哪个国家都是一样的，至少印度端出来这么一碗诚意满满的麻辣烫（不输韩国）而且，画面还蛮干净，真的是第一次见到……
阿三真正的开始崛起了，至少可以自我审视。电影的黑暗是为了现实的光明。有的地方电影只拍光明而是掩盖黑暗。
反转再反转的电影，人性真是个猜不透的东西
我们对它呈现出的“尖锐”的赞美仅仅来自于我们遭受的审核制度。
这些年不知出于什么目的不断神话印度电影的媒体真的应该歇歇了。
震撼！！真震撼！！十分震撼！！！一个中国人看印度电影痛哭流涕感慨万千！不到三个小时的电影里包裹的信息量太大了，完全可以拍一个电视剧的量！好几段镜头反复观看！特别是前20分钟那位女学生带着其他同学来到甘地广场抗议，穿插了老师生前的授课真是看得我头皮发麻汗毛直立！前两年我对韩国电影刮目相看，这两年我又对印度电影刮目相看！在中国媒体的报道下印度脏乱差qj大国，但是为什么人家呈现出来的影视作品如此的高质量！再看看近几年国内电影除了抗战片我想起来的依旧是我不是药神！哎！哎！哎！
剧本很厉害，用一个案件包裹更大的案件，个体的丑恶撕开体制的丑恶。有金句有情绪点，但手法还是陈旧了些，最后二十分钟凌乱了些。但这样的“社会现实主义”电影也可以开发系列是我所始料未及的，印度电影掌握流量密码了。
开头本来以为是一个俗套的故事，直到后面的反转，真的太震撼了！
一边跪，一边哭。
不断反转之中，逻辑也合情合理。但是信奉甘地这个点我很不喜欢，非暴力不合作，本身就是”假革命“啊~
神了，最近的一次望月，全程高能，无限反转
有的人佩服印度和韩国敢拍还过审，但他们或许不知道，这两个国家所拍摄的敏感题材电影并非子虚乌有，虚构出来的，而是已经到了反反复复发生，全世界皆知的地步。韩国的腐败世界有名，几乎每一任总统都贪腐受贿被弹劾，印度的贪污腐败更是根深蒂固。韩国性侵案也很多，不止是娱乐圈还有孩子。印度的腐败阻碍了他们的经济发展，强奸案影响了他们的社会和谐稳定。今年几部印度关于这方面题材的电影我都看了。片中的2019年的案件确实发生过，当时传到国内只是奸杀焚尸，并没有说是谋杀。不管怎样，我觉得再多这样的影片也唤醒不了印度人民，因为民主制度的缺陷并不适合十三亿人多 印度。上世纪八十年代跟我们在同一起跑线上，如今被我们远远抛在身后。再过十年印度还是会如此。等着瞧吧。某些人不要觉得看了几部印度好片就觉得印度电影胜过我们这很无知
评论生态：敢拍就是好，反转到我没想到！牛比，震撼，硬了。大多数线索的存在都是没头没尾的，根本不考虑美学逻辑学的生搬硬套。节奏剪辑配乐慢镜头渲染全部一比吊糟，靠着zz仇恨和讽刺媒体的题材，自己却在用最讨好观众口味的素材搞了一盘实事大杂烩。160分钟的电影想反映一千本专业著作阐述的理论，涉及的每一个点都是血往头上冲的隔靴搔痒，青春期的智商拍出了这么一部叙事混乱流水账，拿着大针筒子硬生生往你下半身注射西地那非
嘶吼说教的越大声越显得表达绵软无力。
开场其实觉得会得奖的，只是渐渐地……就是说，又一部印度神剧呀！
媒体报道的真相不靠谱，公众的情感太容易被忽悠，尤其是在自媒体盛行的当下！！！从大学体制警察腐败种姓制度选举政治等等各方面揭露印度本身的问题！！！韩国电影和印度电影已经到了一定境界，敢拍但大佬们从来不改！！！国内的电影无法追求，不能拍不敢拍大佬们为啥要改！！！
这么高分怎么打出来的？立意起的很高，探讨的点也很多，通过一起案件牵扯出来各种社会面的问题，从政府到司法到媒体到人民，自上而下自下而上，问题蛮多，也不光是印度社会的问题，应该说每个国家都有的问题。但是，揭露这些阴暗面可以，能不能不要把观众当傻子，你看看那个法官还有律师都说的是些什么业余话术？最起码的职业操守都没有？说的话连个老百姓都不如。可信度瞬间就减了大半。而且这片子啊，一直在各种自我感动，几分钟就来一组慢镜头加史诗配乐，根本不给你机会好好搞清楚整个事件的流程。人物也单薄的可怕，每一个人都是工具人，根本不能称之为人物，稍微能看的就是法庭上那段，但是也各种穿插一些非常业余的对话，所以常常出戏。后面反转也就那样吧，没有上升到什么印度电影就甩我们几条街了，至少这片子不行，完全不行。
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