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.
有些地方设立的挺有诗意，比如血雨，洪启辰的精神恍惚，看见了自己并且杀死了自己。但是整体比较乏味无聊，所以中间我看得有点犯困，色彩处理得并不是很好。
3000多人的队伍，最终留下姓名的只有几时人。没有过份的煽情，没有宏大的场面，没有空洞的口号，这个片真的拍出了红军战士的朴素的理想。
放在主旋律战争片里算是有风格，但风格实在压过故事太多，反而让人对故事没什么印象只记得风格。
还问了导演个问题
和新主流战争片相比，最有价值的地方在于电影真正在讲人，思辨所谓“军人以服从命令为天职”的对错与否。除了主角这种典型的十七年电影形象，每个人都有私心，或是惜命，或是爱慕，或是念亲故，而新主流电影往往会缩小、忽略这些人性本质的部分。
作为消解宏大叙事的主流意识形态，我认为这是一个很好的开端，包括审美体验上
资方是政府主要，制作是美院，故事是讲国共内战的，本质上是在反思战争，不是歌颂，影像很实验很有风格（长镜头，低饱和），总体是蛮好的，会被有些场面惊艳到，但整体看下来有些段落也有点沉闷，可能跟低照度和低饱和，缓慢移动的长镜头的节奏有关
就真的还好 影像上是有些有意思的想法 不过也不能指望主旋律有多少出格吧
#BJIFF 应该是今年看过的电影里影调做的最好的。导演说致力于电影本体的研究，实话说一线的教师能把电影拍成这样，不容易。真实战争面，共和白，血雨洗刷。拿最佳摄影应该有戏
可惜的是故事呈点状，比较散，某些片段优秀，但整体连贯流畅度欠佳。而且这样的故事有点与当下观众的需求、品味脱节，可能也是没太考虑受众，注定传播和影响有限。演员是非常认真，也演得好，真的甩那些小鲜肉多少条街……
非常特别的风格，且真实，国产战争电影中算是皎皎者，我喜欢。
算是有风格且另类的战争片，以美术和摄影为基底创作的战争片。故事质朴，沉着讲述，演员在线，氛围感足，角色塑造也不错～
补充：球球了刷评能不能不要这么明显……
除了部分摄影和最后一个镜头的设计，妥妥的抗日神剧😅
比较晦涩，想表达的东西太多，结果四不像。想影射党内的路线之争，想讲人性在战争环境的挣扎，又想表现战争的残酷，又太注重美学构图。还想夹带私货，KMT大喊我是自己人。可能做的好的地方只有方言，还有步枪射击的子弹嗖嗖的音效。最后那个血雨染红真的不懂，都说了电影是镜头语言，最后想说什么，革命道路是献血染红的？天上下血雨是为啥？我理解可能就是纯粹为了所谓艺术的美，而美，没有服务于故事。二星差不多了……我没花钱，要不就一星了。
独立电影不是忽视技术的借口，叙事不行就是不行
6/10。不是加层黑白滤镜再加上毫无节制的烟雾就是诗意摄影（虽然有几个镜头确实不错）。录音录的啥，后期声音做的也太粗糙了…..故事，半小时的内容能撑到一个半小时也是不易。算是中国战争片的特殊存在了，也算一种意义上的开拓吧。
9.29于北京国际电影节。中国的学院派作品，太诗意了。高分辨率的黑白电影总能戳中观众的视觉神经。 无序的事物在的润泽之下变得和谐而有质感。是清澈的溪水漱过碎石，是清凉的晚风吹过芦苇荡，是氤氲的烟汽升腾于山间森林，是曳光的子弹射入士兵的胸膛。全片的光影浸透着温柔又暴力的美感。这场战争里，当交战双方用着相同的方言对话，便再没有胜利可言。
2.5 影像风格是值得鼓励的，但是形式大于内容，中间一度暗得没法看，部分场景布光和表演太舞台剧了。声音设计完成度也一般，空间和层次感欠缺。
剧本是不是就写了个大纲？非常潦草，小声地唱衰一下国美分裂出来的电影学院
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