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.
今年我三十岁了。客观事实不以人的意志为转移…因为自己绝对属于不认真生活的那一挂，所以总是会被认真活着努力追梦的人打动…并且还有那么好听的音乐。
电影剧情就是套路励志片嘛，歌曲一般吧，算不上多好听。
原来是吉屋出租composer原型
虽然婚礼开场葬礼结束，还是留了一个标准的新生命诞生做尾声。老太太的去世因为太顺理成章，反而比任何狗血的戏剧冲突更显悲伤。“在他们看来，女性通常是两种形象，要么邪恶，要么愚蠢，而你最好让人以为你是前者。”金句老太太最后还是变成了挂在墙上的一副肖像画。
Better songs than Encanto
时光流转，看唐2时的心境变化很难用言语形容。有爱，有不舍。就此结局，挺好。
Jon的第一场试片会结束后，好评如潮但无人投资，他问经纪人“那我现在该怎么办？”，经纪人说“写下一部，写完了就再写一部，一直投稿直到有回应为止，这是大多数剧作家的宿命。”有才华的人终将被看到，需要的是时间和耐心。只不过除了这段，全片剧情和音乐都不怎么打动人，不及影片最后Jonathan Larson本人的影像有感染力。
Jon 这个原型人物采取 Monologue 的方式代入他曾经的几部剧中台上台下 融合生活困境 友情挣扎 创作焦虑 爱情平衡 看到对角色保留了好坏两面 没有所谓的纯净化当然不错 可惜还是很难产生接近感 拍摄不易 很多因 covid 的原因无法做到更好的更逼真的效果 让很多百老汇的传奇人物都出场表演也棒 但是 Larson 的真实一生与他的几部作品都让我很疲惫 个人问题 应该是天然对 musical 的一切都太疏离了 听感视觉两个层面完全不欣赏
印象深刻的一幕是加菲拥抱女友时手指轻敲女友的后背，不要爱上艺术家，他会汲取你生命的能量和养分豢养他的作品。
要歌舞有歌舞要节奏有节奏要故事有故事要感动有感动。创作者对自己的掏空和压榨，永远震撼
作为传记片来说，形体和表达方式其实非常一般，加菲尽最大的能力在复刻和诠释乔纳森·拉森的半生。胜在情感真挚和每一首音乐都很好听。从默默无名再到生活撂倒，见证一个一个朋友的离去，巨大的声音摧毁了他。加菲的表演很好，好几场戏有闪光。更多的情况我会觉得乔纳森的一生就像胡波，他们都是被锯断腿的大象，一个是无奈而死，后则是无奈而生。音乐电影的魅力就是享受当下，活在当下，足矣。/记忆衰退，毫无感觉。
Long live Maggie Smith～还想再看奶奶演三十年
拥有非常饱满的情绪，但是音乐剧电影，，，，，以后还是绕道走。
其实不如说是一部加菲的粉丝献礼片，什么都有。搞艺术的人的故事总是大同小异，总是离不开和生活中的贫穷、死生病痛较劲，总是不免在爱中错失，总是会选择放弃理想化而向商业屈服。Rent那种风格一直是我不太喜欢的，所以无法全情投入。倒还是频频戳中了。
我不算真正了解故事的背景，但是不管你是不是musical fans你都会在这个故事里找到打动你的一个点，无论是是坚持是恋爱是失望还是希望。我哭了大概五次，sunday那里百老汇蟠桃宴式的致敬，试唱会还有swimming都非常动人，难得每首曲子都倾注了真心和热情，太好听了。另外加菲真的太优秀。Thanks for all。
前半段很寻常的一步一步来叙事甚至在视听语言上没什么亮点，后面则直接爆发，也对应了标题吧
比《安妮特》还要如坐针毡。之前已经决定如果一部电影没办法在30分钟之内让我看进去，就果断放弃，拒绝再浪费时间看烂片。然而我为这片子坚持了一个小时，忍耐力的进度条还是烧完了。第一，节奏混乱，作为歌舞片歌不好听。第二，加菲表现得太arrogant了，为艺术疯癫不代表要arrogant，他的招人烦导致看不下去。第三，一直打破第四面墙太突兀了，不要一言不合句就直视观众好吧，恰好看完《福尔摩斯小姐》没多久，正处于极度anti打破第四面墙的阶段。【∞】
歌舞片+传记的结合，做到一些很有趣的段落，比如餐厅+交响乐，吵架+牛仔乐，试图用一个音乐剧讲述了他一生里的朋友
几乎要4.5星！ “接下来我要怎么做？ ”“开始写下一部，孩子。 ”
今年我三十岁了。客观事实不以人的意志为转移…因为自己绝对属于不认真生活的那一挂，所以总是会被认真活着努力追梦的人打动…并且还有那么好听的音乐。
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