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.
概念还行,但组织得挺差,既没啥bromance也没啥剧情推进
导演反对人伦，但并不反对人性，他们每一个人的人伦缺陷（卖子，孤儿，离婚，贩卖人口）留下了人性的尺度，卖子也是迫不得已，贩卖不是纯为金钱，孤儿不会一直怨恨母亲，离婚的父亲还对家庭有忏悔。温情与良心在伤痕累累的社会法则面前，终究留了一手。
3.5星，前面觉得尼古拉斯凯奇自己演自己这个创意很有意思，到后面主线剧情反而俗了。凯奇还是那么疯，是让人想到《我心狂野》的那种疯。啊我是真的不喜欢《帕丁顿熊2》TAT
尽管这些年以来，他被冠以“烂片之王”的名号，但我从来没有减少过对他的喜爱，现在，他终于回来了。7.27
自我调侃的尼古拉斯.凯奇有一种别样的魅力，搞笑的地方常常从现实跳进影片里，来回切换更加有趣。其实后半段就觉得这应该是戏中戏，不然中间那些无厘头简直离谱，不过总体来说，终于从低潮走出来的凯奇，值得掌声。
是《小偷家族》的延续，但缺乏相当程度的共情。
不够欢脱，也不够洒脱
很难相信有一天我会用伪善这个词来形容是枝的电影。
导演太温柔太舍不得了。IU的形体完全没有生育过孩子的样子。
这部电影比小偷家族探讨更多的则是女性议题，从女性生育到社会眼光下的男女平等，它脱离了传统眼光下素英作为母亲需要展现的那种母爱，而是更多地去描绘社会底层妓女这个身份给她带来的矛盾与纠结。后半段的泪点很多，打动我的并不是那些温馨和情感，而是通过素英的嘴所呼喊出来的女性渴望被尊重、渴望拥有自由处置自己身体的权利。
与其最相似的其实是《海街日记》，不直视痛苦，而是试图用虚伪推销痛苦。这才是真正的残忍。
很多人抱怨是枝裕和在重复讲故事，父母子女的关系都不再新鲜，反复剖析来去也只是新瓶装旧酒，但这是一个致命的缺点吗？自我重复并非错误，艺术家一生中感兴趣的事情毕竟也有限，他们能够将自己的兴趣耕耘到其他人难以企及的深度，就已经是很了不起的事情。
慢吞吞的日式叙事+略夸张的韩式演技，整个儿故事像瓶常温的啤酒，喝着啤酒味但并不爽口，掮客不太准确，其实是人贩子啊。
电影最精华的部分都出现在了预告片里，不过整个故事看下来还算合格
是枝裕和的这一套还是回到东亚语境下最合适。好的是真相里面的那种别扭和不自然，在这部都看不到了。然而本片更像是是枝裕和对自己的小偷家族的一次无聊重复。与此同时，还不太委婉的掺杂进了一些不太现代的价值观。无所谓对错，但是会有些不适 @SFF2022
事实上是围绕着怎样才是孩子最好的归宿为命题，让我第一次对堕胎有了动摇，但看到后面尽管大家都梦幻一般地好，但还是早点堕胎更好吧！喜欢孩子说再去洗车，小细节的调度还是很是枝～
《真相》的硬伤还只是亚欧文化的不兼容，到了《掮客》已经是与真实世界相比过于真空的市井童话了，只剩下底层人浮于表面的惺惺相惜。看来是枝裕和不止要回日本，还要回归现实世界。
戏中戏中戏的套娃模式结构上比较有趣，作为浪子回头的凯奇洗白之作，既有自嘲也有豁达，玩得尽兴。
用是枝裕和自己的话说，他最喜欢拍的是“带大人气的孩子和孩子气的大人”。他总是喜欢以极大的克制去呈现出人们的生活状况。不论是《奇迹》、《步履不停》还是《海街日记》，是枝裕和总能拍出以为血缘和疏离的为主题的感人的电影。并且从他出版的众多自己电影的小说也能看出，他对文本的设计，编剧的技巧是有一套完善并且实用的体系的。但是虽然连续尝试使用日本之外的演员阵容甚至叙事语境，早期作品情节中的犀利已经逐渐消失了，取而代之的是越来越显泛滥的温情，曾经严丝合缝的匠气也显得过度设计了。在《掮客》里，唯一闪光的地方似乎也只剩对于演员的“调教”了，也因此像锦上添花一般帮助宋康昊拿下又一座影帝奖杯。功能化的并且扁平的角色，突兀并且显得没有办法的结尾……作为作者电影的佼佼者，是枝裕和一直追求拍出“不是给观众提供答案，而是
不知道外國人啥感想，反正本看日劇的只想把坂元裕二的woman拍到失智臉上，出身不幸還單身帶娃只會最後帶到絕症，後續都給你想好了，就說別生了！！！！PS結局令我感到找了一群韓國人拍晨間劇
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