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.
年轻的现代人用科学征服了以往深不可测的大自然，年迈的游牧者也随之去世。这个隐喻也太简单直接粗暴了
想起了艾什诺兹的《跑》：艾米尔跑不过国家机器，苏桦伟跑不出生存困境（一如白银越野马拉松的遇难者）。着力点不在于体育励志，明线是母子情，暗线是运动员的赛后境遇——从“同工同酬”的呼吁到速递员的转型，是什么在阻挡神奇小子跑下去？创作者在发出质询，尽管还是太温柔了。用力过猛之处在于安放了太多戏剧冲突，例如弟弟那条线不了了之，没能处理好全片的情感密度。在这个市场低迷的年头，华语电影却悄然迎来了跑步题材的并喷，和《超越》《了不起的老爸》同一起跑线，《神奇小子》绝对是领跑者。尹志文在彭浩翔手下磨练出了扎实的编剧技艺：故事、人物、主题，而不是让虚张声势的视听喧宾夺主；也慢慢发觉自己对电影的评价体系回归了传统。但话又说回来，最喜欢的一场亚特兰大接力赛，又几乎是纯靠视听建构的，奔跑的姿态本就有摧枯拉朽的能量。
赢再多奖牌也没能改变生活落寞的局面，努再多的力也无人知晓。
总统杂志、完全稳定且带有恰到好处动态的构图和长镜头、老人死亡与探洞节奏完全匹配的蒙太奇，等等，都是及其人工的踩点，用人工踩点引向一个以自然为绝对主题的超越性体验，一场大费周章的投喂。不错的现代科技性能展示片。
个中心酸只有当事者知道，可惜大多数人都是悲剧收场，并不顺利。★★★/6
少年和成年苏桦伟演员和吴君如的演技都在线，但剧本还是太过老套了，没有把这个故事真正的力量挖掘出来，可惜了
3，我永远都喜欢运动片，不管有多少套路，我都可以从中看到力量。
17/8/2021 @ CC Victoria。在今年奧運年看關於香港運動員的電影確是特別有感覺。故事著墨在香港運動員的現實困境而不是單純賣慘/雞湯值得一贊，雖然劇本仍有砂石(Locker的弟弟和鍾雪瑩的方Sir妹妹兩個角色的作用完全就是工具人)，另外三姑並未有因為同時擔任監製而刻意把戲份放在蘇媽上也是值得加許的。其實中段少年版蘇樺偉的故事比較感動，後段成年版雖然拍出了運動員面對經濟負擔和前途問題，但又開始跌入拋出大量金句的煽情手法令感動位不夠自然。
一部杜比全景声在杜比全景声影院🎥，画面和音效简直太棒了。影片非常喜欢，看完后每个人都能有自己解读，开放性很大～
港式煽情、催人泪下；
聚焦不一样的人，审视不一样的美。
7/10
根据真实故事改编，讲述了一个香港的残疾孩子，勇敢超越自己，成为残奥会冠军。这个故事有趣的是，在第一次拿到冠军以后，故事并没有结束，而是演了主角回归正常生活以后，却无法融入的无奈。但最后又重新走上赛场的时候，需要背负的东西就变得不一样了。可惜的是，这部作品只能说中规中矩，每个起承转合就是标准的流水账，在中间说到生活困难的时候，感觉可以对残疾人的生活有更深的挖掘，但故事很快就转向了接广告的诡异路上。这么好的题材最后呈现的结果居然毫无波澜真是有点小可惜。 20220504
只是不一样的人生路，不再被觉得励志什么的。
@深影 特别特别好 虽然这次北影节看了我喜欢的卓别林 但还是鼓励自己要多发掘新片 就像上次在上影节看的蜂蜜之地一样～ 湿润的洞穴很像人的脾脏 屏幕里看到烧纸一点点往下坠时我发现自己闻到了烧焦的味道 光线突然亮起来的时候偷偷观察了看电影的人们 开阔的远景镜头让人如临其境 探险小队给我很舒展的感觉
#BJIFF2021 是挺努力的 从拍摄难度来看
北影节第五场，合生汇寰映。太喜欢了，太奇妙了，我的本次北影节最佳。人与洞，蜿蜒连绵，流淌狭长，直至尽头。大地如人体，在自然环抱下，冥昼，起风，降雨，牛铃，是生命的呼吸，最后大雾弥漫，老人赶牛的声音再次传出，无法不泪目。看完之后，连日熬大夜不太舒服的心脏都通畅了，是某种完美的电影
前半段的场景和演技过于drama 后半段感情铺的还ok 奥斯卡不至于不至于
作为华语片，立意很难得，完全聚焦于个体与母子关系。影片里的“跑”基本等同于《岁月神偷》里的“顶”，仍是港人坚守的狮子山精神。后半段才真正有了现实困境，明显好看多了。故事关于人的尊严，关于自我寻找。妈妈不接受怜悯，让儿子通过跑步赢取尊严，后来，还是不得不屈服于现实。另一边，儿子也在觉醒。对教练，是否定强化短板的练习方法；对妈妈，是拒绝让理想变质。但从现实角度，倒是妈妈一直跑在前面。
老师送的票，中秋节自己一个人去看，电影老无聊了，和我一样。
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