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.
一个人同时保有两种相反的观念，还能正常行事，这是第一流智慧的标志。
3.5。人总得找点事来对抗无聊，人总有不甘心的猎奇欲望需要被满足，至于为了国家，为了人类，为了自己的理想抱负，哪个最能激发自身行动力，哪个就是对的，至于其价值本身，是激起了更为广泛的人类行为互动。
没想到在这一年的结束时候，我终于看到了这一年最好看的电影。幸运啊！
部分画面呈现的东方美学充分体现了朝鲜与中国在文化内核上共性之大 而师徒之间的友情与处世哲学之最终同化，其实只是起到这部略有平铺直叙的影片剧情上的衔接功能 结尾略有淡薄，也可能是预期过高所致 还是值得推荐
没想到这样一部有着文人风骨的电影，却是隔壁的韩国拍出来的。儒家士大夫的进与退，被电影道尽，既有苏轼屡遭贬谪却自得其乐的不息生命，也有“居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君”的胸怀。师徒二人的人生，仿佛是出世入世顺序的对调，最终即使活不成一只鹤，也能如兹山一般生机勃勃。“能看清世界，才能写得了诗。”影片摄影构图满分！
卧槽，拍的真好！即有趣又好看。
【因改革被流放，在海岛受到精通鱼类少年的启发，男主撰写鱼谱，而少年逐渐成为了年轻时候的自己。】纯祖一年，丁若铨因受辛酉迫害事件影响被发配到遥远的黑山岛。来到岛上后，丁若铨对这里的海洋生物产生了浓厚的兴趣，并决定写一本关于海洋生物的书籍。他向在这里土生土长、熟识各种海洋生物的青年渔夫昌大寻求帮助，但最初昌大因丁若铨是戴罪之身而拒绝。后丁若铨了解到昌大在自学识字的过程中常遇到困难，于是提议将各自擅长的知识教授对方，昌大最终同意，两人也在相互碰撞中成为了彼此的良师益友。然而，丁若铨在得知昌大学习的目的是为仕途后大失所望，昌大也明白两人各有志向，亦师亦友的二人决定分道扬镳……
@NYAFF 居然能把儒学vs catholism的政治哲学主题拍得如此accessible且digestible！看前以为是个历史黑白大闷片，但126分钟的电影前100分钟的节奏，配乐，轻松简直像在看Disney (in a mostly positive way)。“不辞长作兹山人。什么时候能有一部苏轼被贬儋州的水墨画电影”。 看到一个评论说的很好："《兹山鱼谱》看似云淡风轻，实际在讲王权与儒学的合谋，把一代代学子纳入体制，成为帮凶。 当然，这一点只是后者的表达之一。它还兼顾探讨了知识何用，真理标准，以及面对一个糟糕的体制，是投入其中努力改变，还是干脆做一个潇洒的隐士？ 这些问题由遥远的历史中飘来，直到今天，答案也仍在风中。 "
起了几次头都没看进去，终于看完了。有点明宋时期的怀才不遇，壮志难酬的感觉。
一个人不在于有什么才能 而是用才能做些什么。never stop fighting。
剪辑版。考虑到前一阵的一印度女性拒绝一男的，那个男的自杀，那个女的被杀死（好像是被处死了）以及以前他们霸凌网暴老白男强吻的女演员，完全不想夸他们。不过好歹印度拍了这样的电影。倒是也很真实。这个人权律师竟然没有被暗杀
#2022.12#虽然依旧忍受不了印度电影的歌舞，不过好在这次没有舞了…选材完胜，这才是电影该有的样子，不知道在生活的土壤是否还能看到，还是越来越红呢？影片还是有一些反转，看的直呼过瘾，为最低下的人民感到悲哀同时又为他们在影片中的所作所为，不被黑恶侵蚀而骄傲
用拉低众人双商的手段来衬托男主的伟光正，这不算捧杀？浪费了好题材
对封建帝制，儒家思想的批判，韩国电影还是这样一骑绝尘。
反思丑恶当然需要反思，赞颂伸张正义当然需要赞颂。不公一直存在，以后也不可能一劳永逸地被消灭，但是哪怕多一个坚持良心正义的律师、JC、法官或平民，这个世界就会好上哪怕千百万分之一，也可能，就是某个家庭的百分之百，甚至是百分之千千万。
一腔正气值得称道，但说实话，靠英明神武走路生风的主角来主持正义，靠嚎啕大哭来收获同情，靠信息不对等来营造悬念，都是有效却不太高明的电影手段，跟《辩护人》、《以父之名》之类的神作不太好比。4星赞的是对部落民劳动、葬礼和舞蹈的生动呈现，左翼电影总能跳出主流商业片之外，做出些新意。记得4年前也是在金奈，一位朋友带我访问了当地的一位左翼律师，她曾从矿产公司手中为部落民捍卫了不少利益。回来路上朋友对印度的这群法律卫士赞不绝口，说中国最缺的就是这样的“真左派”。我说中国更缺的是一个能允许他们自由活动还敢判他们胜诉的司法体系。然后，就没有然后了……石头不能做枕头，左右不能做朋友，虽然我觉得自己不过是实话实说。
3- 比起灵感出自东野圭吾的《较量》（《误杀》原版）可是差得远了，题材形式（且那歌词直白得恨不能掐死全人类的想象力）都不新鲜，故事或纪录哪边都不靠着。
入世与出世、经学与科学、义理与实证，两个人生目标逆向而行的人，终究会因共同的良知而趋于一致。韩国电影人在古代名人传记电影中拍出了现代视野。
看到这种题材真的很感慨，中国现在电影一边大型商业剧作，一边小众私人文艺，零零碎碎的传记片也是近百年的人物，对于古代那些人物也只是大概从课本中知道，这种经过创作编写的人物传记片子少之又少，更何况走人大众视野。中国的文化和故事都被浪费和遗忘光了。
不讳疾忌医，能正视问题，就有解决问题的可能。
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