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.
7.5/10 比正传剧集牛多了，维瑟米尔前传拓深了猎魔人的悲哀，把杰洛特和叶妮芙那种传奇式恋爱下沉到了普通人与猎魔人之间渐行渐远，但时间依旧不能割裂爱的牵绊，更具普适性，也更动人，意外律也陪衬得更加残酷。也把原作里维瑟米尔嘴里一带而过的凯尔莫罕大战讲了个明白。但我不满的是权斗和术士的贪欲和妒忌这方面太草率，仅仅归咎于偏见是没啥意思，要学原著中道出“为何偏见”，看来创作团队太轻视观众对于系列的理解力，都以为路人是粉丝的偷懒心态。
补充背景剧情用！还以为维瑟米尔跟女巫之间会有点啥，有点无头无尾的感觉！
这味，对流~打斗炫酷
不考虑魔改质量还不错，就没人考虑过按原著来拍吗
打斗精彩，剧情紧凑，维瑟米尔年轻时候的高光时刻，战斗力爆表。而且也很好衔接了电视剧第二季的剧情，是一部质量上乘的动画。
本来只能给三星半，但实在太爱巫师各种系列了。
7.8/10。令人惊叹的动作作画，但故事完整性欠缺太多。
虽然是魔改，但还挺有原著的气质，打斗场面很漂亮，伊格尼法印居然这么无敌了，反正看得爽就行了。
最后那个反转，我艹，真的，我艹
只觉片中的各种吵架太真实了，恐怕要不了多久，这样的母女和父女场景都要在我家上演，夫妻就更不用说了，开胃菜而已。。。青春与叛逆，三十年前我还大言不惭地说从没在自己身上感受到过。。。终究是虽迟但到
我还以为男主会和女术士发生点什么…结果是我想多了…最后攻城有点浮夸，空中作战多少个杰洛特都不够填的…只是为什么小时候是个秃子？？
无处可去，只能成为更好的人。变种人的矛盾和冲突都讲的蛮感人
而且怪物和场景粗糙，对白中的剧情描述过得过快，打斗场面只具意、行，谈不上美感。。。可就凭她和他经历了多年的变故依然彼此信任无间，他面对衰老的容颜爱意无比吻得下去的唇，他在她将死之际用魔法溶解的湖边，还有她闭上双眼依偎时嘴角的笑意～这部小制作就有了灵魂。。。
故事挺简单的，但是挺流畅。虽然大场面不多，但是有巫师世界的故事的史诗感。
原来怪物们是这样出现的。。小一辈知道吗。。。
03年的《爷爷泡的茶》在网吧里作为若有若无的BGM的时候，一下子就把我拉回了模糊的非典状态~
而且怪物和场景粗糙，对白中的剧情描述过得过快，打斗场面只具意、行，谈不上美感。。。可就凭她和他经历了多年的变故依然彼此信任无间，他面对衰老的容颜爱意无比吻得下去的唇，他在她将死之际用魔法溶解的湖边，还有她闭上双眼依偎时嘴角的笑意～这部小制作就有了灵魂。。。
战斗很帅，但剧情很赶。话说，白狼盖洛特小时候居然是光头，果然光头才是最强的
年代细节用心，剧作和表演都时好时坏，这里好的标准就是自然
穷尽一生要去探索与发现的“标签”和“认同”，在这个符号性事件的背景之下，借由家庭故事将所有情绪慢慢揉碎，并借由余下的时间娓娓道来。成长中的叛逆与和解，责任之下的隐忍与爆发；亲情的命题永远不止是单一答案，它的矛盾与未知，温暖与残忍，都能从其中感受到。但美中不足的是角色设置与（想象中的）实际有些剥离，甚至到了电影的中段，还是会疑惑当中的抉择逻辑；本应作为点睛之笔的地理元素或年代符号（孙协志、《说爱你》真的不够；“97回归潮”，大概放进去会更加有说头），效果没有想象中那么独特。但比起上部台影《百日告别》，我欣对情绪起承的处理又多了一份流畅；六年后的回归，在人生的又个阶段，她已经是另个可能。演少女可以很可爱，演妈妈也可以很动人，跟随时间见证的感受如此宝贵而又美好。
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