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.
johnny wants to hide
两代才子惺惺相惜的隔空致意。加菲尔德太棒了。
对加菲刮目相看，他竟然把JL演活了，让我看到一个苦苦挣扎的天才的喜怒哀乐。Larson到死都没有看到自己的大作搬上百老汇的舞台，但是他的Rent改写了百老汇音乐剧的历史，也是当年我大学时期一群志同道合好友的精神激励。Lin-Manuel复原了当年Larson表演Tick Tick Boom的场景，表演与现实交织，以一种现代音乐剧电影不浮夸的风格将大时代与小人生的冲撞表现得不动声色。我不是一个会被情怀拐骗的观众，这绝对是一部可以成为经典的音乐剧电影。
看之前没了解片子任何背景，然后边看边一直在感叹好像rent啊，看到最后才发现拍的就是rent的原作者的故事……
林聚聚与乔纳森·拉森，两个音乐剧天才的跨时空灵魂对话。电影没有聚焦在拉森最负盛名的《吉屋出租》上，而是融入他成名前的创作经历，代入创作者的迷茫与困惑。疯狂的剪辑从明亮的幻想世界与单调生活来回切换，形成“戏中戏”的结构，音乐元素构成电影“好听”的基底，好看与好听的同时加菲的演技同样让人信服，唯一的缺点也许是打磨的太过光滑，导致与原本肮脏世界有所出入，更多苦难被埋藏在华丽下。好在电影并不是一味传达天才陨落的悲凉，反而带着的是创作者对创作本身的狂喜，就像时针倒数着，迎来的却是tick，tick，boom！华美的绽放！
其实整部电影都在讲，为什么是他，也只能是他写出Rent。
is this real life？666
鲜明的活着
但每当看完这样的故事
好听好看又有新意。已经难以归纳类型了，但就是这种打破类型和结构限制的叙事方式，另观众的代入感更强，能够完全被情绪所沐浴。在两个小时的市场内仿佛走完了男主角的一生。加菲完全值得一个影帝提名。
#22.03.23-24##SYJBL#是关于“我”的故事。好音乐，退出“观看中的剧场aura”以后并不觉得是一个很好的故事。所有的一切还是在于自我表达。所有人的表演都很棒，尤其是加菲。更像是一部行业宣传片，一部很creative的marketing。
ticktick是倒计时，也是钟摆，是时间流动，也是生命之歌。啊我真的太喜欢这种很能共鸣的题材了
加菲太棒了！Michael、Susan和Karessa的演员也好棒
叙事是片段式的，对于不了解传记片主人公的观众会觉得混乱。用音乐串起情绪效果很好。加菲的表演其实不够深入，演唱部分倒是卖力。
虽然到现在我还是不太能get到rent也不太能get到天才的年龄焦虑，但整体剧情挺流畅的歌曲也好听，观看的过程很舒畅，对于路人来说也就是一部很不错的电影了
虽然不像la la land那么全面 但是故事好很多
本歌舞片爱好者这几年看的音乐传记电影踩雷率50%以上，这片子怎么能够无聊成这个样子啊？！震惊到！！已经到了看了不到一半就不想记得它的地步。音乐不怎么好听，没有一首能打动我的；故事线杂乱无趣，主角絮絮叨叨惹人烦，配角则根本没存在感；连我这么喜欢的加菲在里面也显得面目可憎起来了，什么鬼！！懒得评了，就当我没看过吧……
人物故事层次相对简单 音乐还好 视听比较商业类型
一直都只听说过Rent，但没什么了解，原来背后是这样的一段创作经历
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