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: Miroslav Macháchek as the p riest, casting a sinister an d imposin g shadow wherever he goes, and Cestmír Ra nda as the weas el like r egent beh ind all the per secution. W hile Vít Olm er brings a charismatic leading man pr esence in his r ole as the miller& #39;s son Jan, in love with the lovely orphan girl Martina (Karla Chad imová), who be comes a dange rous ob ject of r ivalry be tween Jan and o ther young men of the vil lage. The film also fea tures t he evocat ive music of Z den?k Liška (pe rhaps t he most pr olific composer of the Czech New Wave). In t his his secon d of eleven col laborations wit h Vlá?il, his com position s are used spar ingly, but t o great e ffect, com pliment ing but ne ver overpowerin g a scen e. The best example o f which can be heard in an am azingly sh ot celebrati on and dan ce sequence at the end of the seco nd act. The Devil& ;#39;s Tr ap might no t be a masterp iece, but it is still a strong e ffort, w ith a fasci nating straigh tforward story and a glorious his torical setti ng captured b eautifully by Vlá?il&a mp;#39; s unmistakabl e visua l prowe ss. A fine work that w ould also be t he perfec t starte r plate to p repare your self for the ch allengin g feast of Marketa Lazarová or The Val ley of the Bees. I t even has an e asy to diges t running time. It's t herefore puzzli ng why thi s gem rem ains largely o verlooked an d ignor ed.详情
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