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.
前半段还是很好笑的，从小白变成反派的那一刻起……后面的剧情套路也太中国了吧。。。
欧美画风，中文配音真的很不适应诶。
整体来说还不错，是我想要的感觉，青木弟弟很适合妹妹头，演技不错，男女主角都是耐看型
我怎么也想不明白，反派怎么不在第一次见到他们时直接搞死他们呢？强行反派就是说
看了片尾才发现是艾福杰尼唱的
高中版爱的成人式，哥哥那条线根本不重要的吧。
我说怎么有点迪士尼味，原来是老外导的。总体来说还行-----孩子喜欢看。剧情主线没啥创新的，几乎就是照搬《天才眼镜狗》+《愤怒的小鸟》。闲了可以带孩子去看看
故事源于生活，消沉的女作家，靠颜的男封面，一起踏上神秘小岛，过河滩爬悬崖斗反派，一路斗嘴耍宝，毫无意外的感情升温。
为了孩子看的，不是因为国庆无聊不回去，下次一定要有好的动画片上映再带孩子看
纯搞笑的商业电影，布拉德皮特很给面子来客串
2021.10.3 来新开的奥体印象城的cgv来看 在大众抢的1元券不要太值！这个cgv也挺厉害有杜比 杭州三家cgv要么是IMAX要么是杜比是真厉害..还有公交过的居然是新开的博奥隧道！头次来 其实挺搞笑的是CGV是韩国CJ娱乐旗下的 一直禁韩流但是能增加gdp的就不禁 唉 居然还不错 不愧是大头是美国做的啊 这技术显然不一般 动画做的美轮美奂 虽然我中间睡着了一会 但显然这是国庆档最好看的动画片了 而且这个菲拉萌确实好萌啊。。萌翻了简直 但没想到那只小狗居然是反派 就是拯救自己的世界 让自己免于灭绝的故事
造型好，故事就是国外编导一股脑写出来没心思磨细节的流水线作品，不过其实还可以，国内市场定位加国外编导的路线其实可以，再多点本土化可打造新的儿童动画路数
只有我想知道最后那个蛋孵出来的是什么嘛！！
#拯救甜甜圈：时空大营救#这种中美合作的动画很容易很尴尬 画风制作偏好莱坞内容故事还是太国产低幼 完全没觉得有意思 而且这个甜甜圈的形象也很奇怪 萌还算萌但是不会让人觉得讨喜 搞得时空穿越揉进去了太多中国元素但是并没用 小孩可能还能看的激动大人完全无感 这动画不能只学个形（6.5）
一边看一边好多疑惑，到底是国产电影还是美国片？为嘛肚子有个洞？真的有这样的灭绝动物嘛？为嘛是穿越到上海？？作为科普动画很合格
醉了，资本的天下，大天朝也成了外国团队的金主爸爸，可是觉得主创拿钱办事不走心啊整出个文化四不像，假期打发时间都觉得有点膈应人。
看似完美的错过，可能一开始就是这样。
兄妹逆袭的思路比较奇特，时光穿梭的套路不出所料，跨物种结合太违和了，口型都是英语但是没有英文版很奇怪。
笑点是可以的，冒险部分纯粹诈骗了。配乐有点儿意思，音效也给得很足，就是没事儿可以下饭看看的片子，看完也不会被尬到以至于跟噎了苍蝇一样（此处对比同期某屠房的喜剧大片），但除此之外也没什么了，还有说比神秘海域惊险的，只能说客观影评别拉不搭嘎的来骗完咱疲惫社畜下班后的消遣时间吧，看得困死累死我了。
中间那个洞怎么看都很恶心，而且台词和春晚有的一拼，哪来的那么多落后流行语录，尴尬死了，人设也非常的讨厌
Copyright © 2015-2023 All Rights Reserved
