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.
适合音乐剧的表情 在电影镜头中放大 就会略显浮夸 但是当作二刷边看边唱 体验也不太差
本来以为男主说谎已经够恶心了，结果黑女才是最恶心的。为了自己名利什么光面堂皇的事都能justify真是美国特色。可怜人必有可悲之处
影版总觉得差了点意思，不过歌好评，想看官摄了
掉san的最大原因不是男主，而是整个用拍恐怖片的手法给了运镜和演员reaction……演员挺努力了
原封不动的把音乐剧改编成电影，而不顾两种艺术形式的不同，一定是灾难
Kaitlyn的zoe真的不错 个人觉得requiem比音乐剧版要好 电影版没有收录good for you有点失望
看的时候这个好像音乐剧，看完一查果然是音乐剧改的。
就你以为这个音乐剧这么好那电影再烂也不会太烂 但是…………
原封不动的把音乐剧改编成电影，而不顾两种艺术形式的不同，一定是灾难
电影问题实在有点多，甚至让我去怀疑原剧本身是否是一个好的故事，唯一能感动能称赞的只有音乐了，新加的几首歌也很好听特别是Connor那首a little closer，但是几首父母辈的歌，disappear全都删了就让所有除Evan以外的角色仿佛都变成像工具人一样扁平，最起码的用音乐和歌词推动剧情都做的很差。还有选角，在我这Ben是最好的Evan，但是他真的不适合演高中生了！尤其是这个造型简直high school stalker既视感，太出戏了，再加上导演没有找到音乐剧和电影之间的平衡，大量镜头特写显得更加诡异。
em...Ben Platt的脸怎么看起来像是填充了啥...背景不能改改吗？一点都不高中生 而且感觉舞台版的表演对他影响太大了 表情收不住
删掉了Anyone那首和父亲的自白曲，总觉得缺了点什么
和音乐剧相比，某些部分讽刺意味更强，某些又削弱了。在想演员的年龄外形是不是可以稍微改一下故事背景。不过有些歌曲还是一如既往的动人。
因为内在原因，DEH真是我最最能从个人角度去共鸣的音乐剧了，音乐的出色是它的灵魂，使得影版都无法割舍，甚至在这里，开头的Waving through a window有让我欣喜，For forever让我直接哭了出来，Requiem我从音乐剧喜欢到电影，而You will be found，是我永恒的软肋，一听就泣不成声。
"I know how broken you are. I still love you."
Sadly Ben Platt is too mature and too famous for this role and this pathetic story is absolutely ruined by the Platt Family
影版总觉得差了点意思，不过歌好评，想看官摄了
我在大荧幕上看了俩小时Ben Platt的泪沟和抬头纹救命哇… 完事儿立看了宽街这个月DEH的后排票（叹气 // 嗯老伙子吃的药和我想差不多：若干SSRI和一个Benzo PRN（摊手 // 尽管很嫌弃我还是被惹哭 // 为啥一个穷孩子成了有钱人家庭关系的润滑剂，希望有富人可以重金求我来融化你们家的坚冰哇（不是。
better than I thought 不是很懂音乐剧和改编音乐剧etc 但是感觉Evan的歌声一直到speech那里才变得diegetic 这个设计感觉挺妙的 但总的来说欣赏不太来建立在谎言上的故事 而且Connor的可怜之处交代的不是很清楚 不清楚为什么一直到最后Evan都是阴阳脸打光 the ending is not bad tho
典型的调起高了的电影，不能说不好看，就是从中间爆点往后每个部分都差点意思，就像隔着手套摸东西似的，音乐也是好听的真好听，一般真一般，立意不错，但是没能很好的圆回来
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