剧情介绍
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: Mirosla v Macháchek a s the priest, casting a si nister and imposing shadow wherev er he goes , and Cest mír Randa as t he weasel like regent behind all the persecutio n. While Vít Olm er brings a c harismatic lea ding man pres ence in his role a s the mill er&#3 9;s son Jan, in lov e with the l ovely orphan gi rl Mart ina (Karla C hadimová), who bec omes a da ngerous ob ject of riv alry between Jan and o ther young me n of th e village . The f ilm also feat ures the evocative m usic of Zde n?k Liška (p erhaps the most pr olific co mposer o f the Czech New Wave). In this his sec ond of el even collabora tions with Vlá ?il, h is compo sitions are us ed sparingly , but to gre at effect, complime nting but ne ver overpower ing a scen e. The bes t example of which can be heard in an ama zingly shot cel ebration and dance seq uence at the end of the seco nd act. The Devil's Trap mig ht not be a mas terpiece, b ut it is stil l a strong effo rt, with a fascinating str aightfo rward st ory and a glori ous histor ical set ting captured beautif ully by Vlá?i l's unm istakable vis ual prowess . A fine work that wo uld also b e the perfect starter plat e to prepare y ourself for the cha llenging feast of M arketa L azarová or The Valley of the Bees. It even ha s an easy to digest run ning time. It&a mp;#39;s therefore p uzzling why thi s gem rema ins largel y overl ooked and ignor ed.详情
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