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.
通篇都是对话，通过对话交代出来的情节曲折离奇，蛮喜欢这种充满灵光一闪、怪异反常moment的剧本。第一段是想象中跟第三者争宠，第二段是表演状态下的故意引诱，第三段是互相为陌生人扮演念念不忘的同性暧昧老同学。无性爱场面却充满情欲，如同“用语言抚摸着对方”。三个女主的长相都好特别。
这世界很大 大到一辈子都没有机会遇见 这世界很小 小到一抬头就再次看见了你
时间慢慢地摧毁了我……文本堪称精妙绝伦……滨口龙介怕不真是霓虹影坛紫微星？！
三个故事以女性视角分别讲述了爱情里面的恋爱、欲望和同性，也涉及了劈腿、出轨和旧爱的话题，台词富有逻辑也很细致，人物直达内心的倾诉还是很有感染力的。 故事都是消极的走向，积极的结尾。比较有趣的是人物的思维方式都很奇特。虽然影片整体情愫很细腻，但故事本身并不是很惊艳。
4.5；滨口龙介的确拥有天分（系列前作实已证明），非常迷人的文本（堪称剧作典范），大量对白却能携有丰盈的气质，将小体量内的精妙叙事与精准调度发挥得举重若轻，再次印证电影的无限魅力。
视听层面上，这是完全不同于洪尚秀的拍法，滨口龙介似乎在努力寻找寻找一种前人没有做过的方式来做电影。至少是在他对电影边界的理解范围内，尽可能的去探索，做不一样的尝试，这点实在是太强了，只能说瑞思拜！
最后一集值得5星。扶梯上的偶遇，相互的认错，反而让原本毫无瓜葛两人成了真正意义上最熟悉的陌生人。二人在“角色扮演”中流露的真诚、炽烈的感情，令人为之动容。能够拥有那样一个时隔20年仍念念不忘，跋山涉水相见只求了解对方是否过得还好的少时玩伴，人生也堪称圆满。二人现实中虽然只是初见，但又能够彼此心灵相通，或多或少感知到对方所想所愿，真诚、投入地为对方弥补遗憾，帮助对方重拾“希望”，这种行为也只能用“美好”二字形容了。
偶然的想象，想象的偶然，各种魔幻时刻，各种三，斯阔以和阔瓦伊的坦诚，对镜头的直视，好久不见的变和没变；比较喜欢第三段和第一段出租车上的聊天，在谈话中相互爱抚的境界；滨口有种特有的语调，忍不住和洪尚秀相比，感觉滨口对人与人的亲密关系还是更乐观一些，拥抱生活里的偶然和想象，还挺鼓舞人的呢
人生导师男，性倒错，变态（拥抱共同体，延迟享乐甚至不享乐，门-确保大他者看见）
魔法：无比真实的情感收放，典型的亚洲人交流方式和爱恋。爱，会伤人，也会使人盲目。随着时间的沉淀，这种博弈使人愈陷愈深，在痛苦与快乐间来回拉扯。
门框的游戏。玻璃隔挡的前景被光照得透亮,陷入了一种焦虑的瞬间：被对话起伏所酝酿的气氛包围的“我们”通过偶然事件/发现自身记忆的缺失或虚假。晕眩在一些反复咀嚼的情绪里——打破情节剧=走入日常以及成为人的内部。凝视,来自景别的凝视！脸上的笑容逐渐凝固成哀伤甚至苦痛：作为平整的诵读,情绪被混杂在其中,相遇的男人与女人//更加理性地将人物定在一个松动的角度（中心线的长久？为了沉思？）zoom是某种运动的象征,走动的回应。以及我们跟随人物离开公共场所的摇动,相拥把情感分享给互不相识的他者。
所有的凝视都关乎权利，只有妈妈的凝视关乎爱，那注视的眼光那么温柔。
中国电影电视编剧，除了用穿越带来的天然认知优越，还有其他办法产生创意，让主角差异化，让观众爽到吗？
相互独立，但又相互连接，何其美妙的三个短片。
终于找到了洪尚秀正确的打开方式…剧作厉害的，细节处莫名联想到生活中自我与他人的剪影，看到最后一个故事恍惚间甚至怀疑导演是不是读过女校…好吧，所谓对影成三人，还有一人便是艺术，便是电影。
偶然与想象正是日常的两大命题，看似无关精要的一瞬，却抓住了刹那汹涌的情感，第三部大赞。
【勉强3.5】我感受得到贾玲的用心，但如果我是导演，我一定不会允许我的母亲再过一遍这样的人生。
最喜欢第二个故事。文本完美。
前面两个的攻防战异常精彩，想不到第三招是化骨绵掌…杀伤力最强。滨口龙介是因为搞表演研究主妇班所以才踏入了这超强势的创作高峰期吗😂，这一个个的剧作水准我的妈呀…
另外这剧有台词的演员颜值衣品双高啊~
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