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.
看完心里有点难受，每个人都在挣扎着活着，体验一点小小的甜头，就仿佛活着是受罚，一点点的希望和温暖足以让人不绝望至极。甘斯布真美啊，怎么会有人这么美，苍薄脆弱的美。
有好几处被旧画质感动到。我们能留下的，只有一段段记忆
有关短暂的相逢和珍贵的善意，有时人与人之间的邂逅真的可以这样单纯... 此刻耳机里放着serge gainsbourg，算某种巧合吗？
这是我豆瓣标记的1400部电影长篇（不算纪录片电影），还是一如既往的喜欢看电影，希望继续有电影陪伴我的生活
Pascale Ogier hante ce film…
不知道为什么被无法挽回地打动了，可能是万花筒一样的时光碎片散漫平凡但有光、八十年代的颗粒感、不合时宜的深夜电台和电影院、迷雾般醉人的音乐、这么多年过去了依旧柔韧如初的夏洛特甘斯布和艾曼妞贝阿、青春和年龄的褶皱被黄油一般抹平。有电影真好，就像十几年前感受到得那样。
米夏埃尔·艾斯又拿出一段缓缓流淌的时光，虽不似《阿曼达》轻盈、灵动，个别几处对八十年代的巴黎过分沉溺，但其余都是掏心掏肺的生命体验。无论是青春涌动的荷尔蒙、写诗的激情或是对电影的痴迷，都能在这部作品里找到对应。
看这部电影的感官特别不真实。作为一个半吊子法语学习者，第一次在电影院看法语电影。一开始影厅里只有我一个人，我坐得离屏幕很远，因为我习惯以一个旁观者态度而不是沉浸者态度来看电影，后来进来一对老夫妇坐到了第三排，突然觉得我在这个城市特别孤独。talulah说她在哪都没有归属感，后面又看到talulah看着女主一家三口抱在一起跳舞，随后她也被邀请进去，仿佛她也成了这个家的一份子…但终究不是。总体来讲是个很轻飘飘的片子，一直忍不住想，他们生活触底了揭不开锅了还可以住在大公寓里还可以谈恋爱还可以游手好闲写诗歌还可以找工资很低的但很热爱的很浪漫的工作，在大好青春的年轻人仍然要寻求自毁，这就是发达国家的privilege
#Berlinale Competition# 《宝石长袍》看了半小时放弃了跑来看这个，真好看啊，气质特别迷人，一会就给代入进去了。温柔静谧的夜空，行色匆匆的旅人，80年代的巴黎，虽不曾至但心向往之。一个普通家庭、一个平凡女性和她周围人的故事就这样缓缓流淌，淡淡的轻轻的，所见之处尽是导演对历史还有电影的感伤怀旧，演员好，音乐品味也好，希望有大奖啊！最后妈妈送给孩子礼物那段直接看哭了，想起我妈妈以前也有写日记的习惯，她告诉我，在认识我爸之后，她发现记录的都是伤心的事情，于是就不再写了。我没有看过她的日记，也不敢看，或许是我还不够勇敢吧。想到这里，再看到电影里的情节，就情不自禁地感到难过。
最后每个人都获得了爱好和生活的匹配，敏感细腻的妈妈在夜间电台收获了事业，迷茫的喜欢看电影的小姑娘去影院收票，弟弟坚持写诗，姐姐终于长大独立投身于政治。失婚的妈妈有更好的第二春，孩子们从未离开她。只是这么美好的事情，只能存在于2022年拍摄的设定在1984年的事，比科幻电影还架空，因为现实已经不能指望了。法语好听的习惯性4星
不知道为什么被无法挽回地打动了，可能是万花筒一样的时光碎片散漫平凡但有光、八十年代的颗粒感、不合时宜的深夜电台和电影院、迷雾般醉人的音乐、这么多年过去了依旧柔韧如初的夏洛特甘斯布和艾曼妞贝阿、青春和年龄的褶皱被黄油一般抹平。有电影真好，就像十几年前感受到得那样。
开场5分钟是真的视听大翻车的5分钟，夏洛特演技+纪录片素材只能勉强扳回一星
【生活不是我想象的那样 但我尽力爱它了】我热泪盈眶
轻盈随性 绝美的色调 柔和的光影 温暖舒适的室内设计 浪漫的巴黎风景 寻常的故事和台词 穿插的八零年代巴黎景色是精髓 看过这部电影就算当了一回巴黎夜旅人 致敬彻夜不眠后窗边的晨雾 音乐和香烟/甘斯布居然是英国人 真的很像法国美女
35mm摄影机的片段使得影片有种淡淡的怀旧感。
对街边少女的收留很欧洲白人了 sentimental
温暖、浪漫的巴黎人故事，一切都被加上了美好的滤镜，即使他们的遭遇并不完全是幸福的，也不妨碍观众在其中得到的抚慰。
1980年代才是美好时代，有午夜广播，有圆月映花都，有密特朗，那时还没有没有互联网
没有跌宕起伏的情节，简单温情的家庭生活。但是这就是我们的人生，简单，平淡而那么真实
#22Berlinale 1
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