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.
结合了好多法国的精神分析，沙可和他的治疗，催眠，以及歇斯底里被看作是女性反抗父权的症状，患者照片和医生诊断的相互参照关系...
到底谁是疯的呢，所有精神病院片子都可以问的问题。三星半
如果她出去后，能把整个邪恶势力铲除，把她救出来就好了
亚马逊这样的巨头，确实给中小成本舞台，但也让作品统一着色，没有毛边和性格。
大概是迪士尼动画片里最次的那一类，唱唱跳跳然后就大和解，简直莫名其妙，而且歌还不好听。2022年第一部看了个这，也是无语。
片尾音乐响起时，我好似陷入到一段灵与肉的二重奏。导演不断用镜头语言暗示的两个女主间飘忽不定的情愫在最后陡然亮明，跨越世俗常态的禁忌之海，构筑起一座不受约束的——牺牲、救赎和爱。
略无聊 女性主义该有点新意才行啊 镜头调度非常不行 梅尼总想跟女同沾点边但又不想拍完全的女通讯录
30/100 OH MY GOD！！！已经料到会很平庸了但没想到竟会如此难看，就是一坨狗屎好吗！！！
她们本身没有病，是在疯人院被人逼出病来的。 女人之所以成为女人，不是天生的，而是后天形成的。 看得很压抑的一部片子。
到底谁是疯的呢，所有精神病院片子都可以问的问题。三星半
见证梅拉尼·罗兰从演员到导演的蜕变，这部疯女人我强推，2小时的观影体验，见证了女性之间真挚的友谊，但又闻到了一丝丝的姬香
剧情一般。看点是唱段的动画设计，单独拎出来都是不错的mv，不过唱段水平也一般。色彩运用很不错，很有热带风味。
太可怕了，如果我出生在那些年，怕也是会被关进疯人院。其实这个题材很好也很有价值，反思体制性的迫害，当男权与父权无法理解也不尊重女性的多样性时，就连医学也成了残害的手段，但是如果选择一个更现实性的切入点，而不是通灵，也许可以拍得更好，
我太难过了，我能为你们做什么，我能为我们做什么？什么是女巫，什么是疯女人？在我们背后有多少女性伫立，有多少强大的女性化成守护灵？我们的身体，我们的灵魂，我们的故事，一切是怎样发生的，又将如何被讲述？“为什么相信上帝没问题，相信鬼魂却不可以？”也许上帝和鬼魂分别是阳与阴的两面，共同组成一个更高的维度，那地上跑的，大声宣传的，主宰着所谓的光明；那不被允许讨论的，暗处流传的，也将默默延续。痛恨一部分人控制另一部分人的所有道义，中世纪精神疗法、政治的武德、政策的制定………希望更高维度的世界得以被呈现。
整个画面就很高贵，Eugénie和Geneviève搞姬好不好😍
形式很魔幻，内核其实很真实。一个人是因为有用才值得被爱的吗？非常喜欢女主，真挚热忱，终于没有中二病！
看到了，也不要说出来，你越说得真实，越会被认为你疯了。不管是亲人还是陌生人。
但片子过于冗长乏味。
事实是他根本没走，更荒谬的是他非但不恨家族，反而无条件爱家族，无时无刻不想回来，最终如愿以偿回了家，还反过来给家人道歉。
最近反映女权的电影不少，本片同时展示了西方世界的愚昧落后和女权的抗争，任何人在那个时代的欧洲估计不疯也要被逼疯。女主是不是能通灵不重要，而强大的父权社会和蛮荒的认知才是造成女主悲剧的最大原因，这和中世纪的灭巫运动如出一辙，而当年欧洲各国男人对女性尊严和人权的肆意践踏和侮辱现在看来简直令人发指，更别说那些与男人狼狈为奸共同欺压女性的同性别人群。如果女主没遇上尚有良知的护士长，也许和那个被所谓医学家们随意实验玩弄到肢体残疾的病友一样结局悲惨。最后的舞会是最耀眼的桥段，疯人和正常人完全迷乱，护士长牺牲自我让女主真正成为自由的女性更值得大书特书，毕竟在体制内的人能和少数人一道反抗禁锢难能可贵。全片节奏不错，层层递进推向高潮，其中服化道相当还原，特别是欧洲女人的各式服装简直不要太到位。
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