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.
（怎么可能会没有girl in red呢）
有可爱的桥段（🛹🌈 但一眼看到头的剧情还是too boring to watch…感觉还是因为两个女主之间完全没有sparks 很难共情crush🥲
前面很平淡，但当诗音被电击枪击倒之后，剧情节奏突然加速，一切变得精彩了起来，直到片尾一气呵成，前半部分的强设定都因为真相的揭示而变得合理
dental dam是个好东西啊 女主的妈妈太酷了 甚至让人也想做个酷妈
3.5星。如果少一点cheesy，少一点dramatic，观感会好很多，但总体还是很甜的轻松电影。相比之下，the half of it分寸感更好，更恰到好处
4.5。过于20年代哈哈哈哈，能让我在这两天笑出来的电影 我就喜欢
虽然有点土有点直白 但是还是女孩儿恋爱好啊！女主古灵精怪非常可爱 aj脸圆圆的笑起来真漂亮！被窝夜聊 牵手肢体接触 是谁懂了！
这里怎么就没一个长的好看的女的啊.....现在白女都这么丑了吗
大熊猫为了多分一口食物会假装怀孕。
though hate this ‘inborn’ identity piece of shit, glad that they did not sexually-objectify these young girls and presented a lovely lesbian fantasy. Btw where there is a Latina, there is joy😚
无意冒犯，但是看完一半的时候只觉得预告那部分是最好看的……还有就是最后被柔道社小哥表白时那段磕到了一会，是真的侧面感受到了诗音人性的那一面，然后就没有然后了……所以柔道社小哥该怎么办啊，你女朋友上天了啊喂(つД`)
色调好看，但题材真的刻意又无聊。现在只要挂靠lgbt就能得高分也是绝，搞的我现在都要对此类题材的作品有偏见了。
可是这是he诶！全员甜心！天哪 🥲🥲🥲片尾曲真的好好听
和《真心半解》之间差了十个《爱意，绽放》吧。
其实是正在看！很好看 蛮喜欢的 我总觉得我看过这个剧情 这个女主好幸运啊 喜欢的女神也喜欢她这也太幸运了吧 看完了虽然结尾有点牵强 总体还是不错很可爱
抛开CP而言，剧里的一些反常规设定也很有意思。主席大人和第一先生，少见的异性恋是允许在学校里亲热的吗？简直是女权姬仔的乌托邦了。小时候的佩奇和AJ好可爱啊！AJ是什么酷酷女孩儿！穿搭好爱！
女主其实蛮漂亮的，又普通。。美式美女都挺壮的。。哈哈哈。。少数族裔。。更好看。。。哈哈哈。。。高中姬片。。哈哈哈。。
虽然主角是AJ和P，但是我觉得P跟AJ姐姐更好磕啊怎么回事🥵果然我是个颜狗
看到腳本有大河內本來還擔心了一下，果然有人管他還是正常的（劃線
希望大家都能幸福
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