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.
男女主演技太灾难了，很难不让人出戏，部分台词也过于刻意，全片cp感最好的竟然是男主的父母
非常非常值得鼓励的作品，中国家庭传统观念，地方特色以及时代感兼具，有许多又灵巧又幽默的处理。最难能可贵的是刻画了如此完整丰满的一位中国传统母亲的形象，且能让人站在她的角度理解她的感受。对于情感的表达总是恰到好处，从静珊为了见母亲学潮汕话到母亲与静珊告别学着说蹩脚的普通话：“以后多来潮汕玩啊”，母亲的心结随之打开，一些传统观念也在随着时代而慢慢消解。个人认为机场分别这场戏结束也许更好？后面的部分就有点多余了，不过结尾母亲第一次坐飞机，在最后说出“妈妈是不是很没用？”还是很让人动容。
小桓也看完了，我也是。
看完电影 很想找个周末再去潮汕逛逛🥳
前提就是，男生真的爱女孩。那么家人的阻力也没关系
剧本有待打磨，演员都是素人吧有些不太行，女主的网红脸太出戏
男主还是很幸运的，有个以他开心为主的妈妈，很多人的父母哪怕断绝来往还是接受不了坚持己见。
很像，女主角也和她很像，真好。
方言电影在北京的排片比较少，今天去看了这部潮语片真的很不错，也是看的第二部方言电影。（第一部是前年的闽南语片《蕃薯浇米》）
有点感人但不多。这个剧情的模板很熟悉，把矛盾架在潮汕文化习俗中很巧妙（当然也确实是源于创作者的真实背景）。而越南电影《再见妈妈》则是把类似套路用在了LGBT的出柜矛盾中。
挺朴树又接地气的，虽然文化不同，但是能看到真诚，还真是生活里的点点滴滴，怪不评分如此高
潮汕话真的太亲切了，也只有懂方言的才能get到各种笑点，中间落了几次泪，确实是泪点也挺低的，不过整体上能拍到这样的效果真的很不错呀
好像都是素人演员，真的不得了。
作为一个土生土长潮汕人，我认认真真地要所有人安利这个方言电影。剧情是老套的“外来媳妇本地郎”，但是画面音乐用了心思，如果你想了解潮汕，可以去看看它。里面那个妈妈，几乎是所有潮汕女性的缩影，保守、世俗、固执，像极了我一个许久未见的女性长辈，我知道那也是我的样子。我几乎从片头哭到片尾，每一帧都是乡愁。尤其是片尾那句“我是不是很没用”，泪崩。
最近方言电影四方兴起甚好 文化多元的基础就是方言 虽然我全程没怎么带入 但现场的潮汕观众笑的前仰后合 先说影片的优点 潮汕渔村的民风展示与几组平行剪辑带出的潮汕社会生态（雨天 卤味 小生意人 海外关系 邻居关系）特别是基本承包全片笑点的龅牙阿姨 日常拌嘴都是比较有灵气的地方 此外影片也比较委婉地展现了潮汕独有的婚前“男尊女卑”婚后独尊母上的特殊形态 借着潮汕背景编导开的这一点保守玩笑基本也在可接受范围内 不过电影的问题还是比较大的 总结下来可以归为过于原生态的平铺直叙 无论是表演还是导演的手法 都太平了 从模仿久石让的配乐就可以感受到编导想要模仿日韩系小清新的治愈风格 可实际呈现上对于生活缺少一个再发现的二度创作过程 剧本太顺拐了 在传统与现代的冲突讨论上 甚至是低配版《摘金奇缘》
#202224#
最近方言电影四方兴起甚好 文化多元的基础就是方言 虽然我全程没怎么带入 但现场的潮汕观众笑的前仰后合 先说影片的优点 潮汕渔村的民风展示与几组平行剪辑带出的潮汕社会生态（雨天 卤味 小生意人 海外关系 邻居关系）特别是基本承包全片笑点的龅牙阿姨 日常拌嘴都是比较有灵气的地方 此外影片也比较委婉地展现了潮汕独有的婚前“男尊女卑”婚后独尊母上的特殊形态 借着潮汕背景编导开的这一点保守玩笑基本也在可接受范围内 不过电影的问题还是比较大的 总结下来可以归为过于原生态的平铺直叙 无论是表演还是导演的手法 都太平了 从模仿久石让的配乐就可以感受到编导想要模仿日韩系小清新的治愈风格 可实际呈现上对于生活缺少一个再发现的二度创作过程 剧本太顺拐了 在传统与现代的冲突讨论上 甚至是低配版《摘金奇缘》
妈妈这个演员演的太好了，拿鸡毛掸子打儿子那一段，看得我简直疼在了身上和心上！
扑面而来的质朴和真实感，一下子梦回在潮汕生活的日子。
母亲是典型的潮汕传统女人，她拜神，她操持家务，她生了两个儿子，她顾念着氏族里的宗亲，可以说母亲才是真正撑起家庭的顶梁柱，而传统与与习俗也帮她维系了她的家庭。正是因为如此，恪守传统的母亲无法接受外省、离异的未来儿媳，以致于棒打鸳鸯。她无法洒脱，无法开明，她是为整个家庭考虑最多的人，母亲太爱自己的孩子了，为两个孩子付出了一生，看到最后，我只有心疼母亲，理解母亲。讲不出一句责怪。
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