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.
所以人人都在经历苦难，能活下来的绝对不是一般人。
恶趣味cult片。素食主义者在法国这么激进吗？状态感觉好像国内的爱狗人士。
恶趣味十足，把各种政治正确和极端主义通通讽刺了一番，要是身边有这么个强迫别人接受自己观点的极品或许我也会毫不眨眼地痛下杀手
吃人的恐怖片竟然不让人反胃，夫妻俩还单纯的有点小幽默
三星半，这片子有个奇怪的尺度，多一点让人恶心，少一点让人觉得差口气，但看着又憋着一点说不清的什么，直到结尾，想起前两天看的《东京零年》，人与兽之间的界限，那种疯狂的罪恶背后奇异的一点点刺激，卡在这之间的要命的尺度。
受到了《人肉叉烧包》的启发，还带着喜剧的风格
荒诞当中找荒唐，究极素食者们着实是肉吃少了没脑子，人肉沉迷者们也是肉吃多了没有心
PS:最后屠宰场一段，素食男抱着牛头一本正经质问女主善待它了吗，笑喷，以此类推上帝是不是该抱着女主的头质问他善待女主了吗。
极致的孤独真的要命。
剧情相对简单 一邪到底，无法回头……（虽然有些逻辑问题：开篇时 既然是老肉脯的师傅了，处理尸体居然乱砍手法）内核居然是致敬黄秋生的《人肉叉烧包》最后很聪明的控制了片长80分钟，如果是更多的时间，那么一定是更差。
3、关于打造爆品的思考：假如有一天断供了，是不是这盘生意就没救了？哈哈哈
结局太惊悚和唏嘘了，竟然一切都是主人公的想象。。。
黄秋生那段翻译笑死人了 又万分的贴切 1168
挺有意思的，就是看的过程中好奇男主作为职业屠夫，杀任何动物之后第一件事不是应该先放血嘛。。。
好幸福～此生我都无法奢望的美妙爱情！
只能说，茨维格的作品不好拍！但双线的拍法，内心戏的刻画，导演和演员已经尽力了！
把人当做产肉动物这个观点蛮鲜明而恐怖的：长发男青年等于火腿肉，肥婆等于大理石花纹的雪花肉，小孩子等于滑嫩的小牛肉…发国难得浪漫的幽默哈哈哈…话说狗狗是天天吃升值器官怎么受得了emmmm
虎头蛇尾，太可惜了。这个焦点访谈一样的结局搞得跟内地广电特供版似的，唉～
周一晚上看的。开头就很emm......还好没在吃东西的时候看，我是咧着嘴滋着牙看的，好家伙。也不知道字幕翻译对不对，我都想去看黄秋生的《人肉叉烧包》了。
看过的第三部有吃人肉的情节的法国电影了，法国人对吃人肉是有什么特殊情结吗？整体其实还不错，挺有意思的
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