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.
马拉多纳的上帝之手和小姨带来的灵感之源哪个更难舍弃？依然记得当年在那不勒斯海湾看过的魔幻日落，热气腾腾的接头，但不会了解大家庭的聚会里的杯弓蛇影，缺爱的阿姨们和缺发的叔叔们在想些啥。开场的小修士很魔幻，就像青春的影子。父母在新屋突然离去，深夜游荡在卡普里岛的接头，会一下在监狱里和父亲重遇的朋友，获得反对自由发言导演提出建议的自由，踏上去往罗马之路。不由想起细腻和隐忍的《罗马》，这部更加多彩缤纷。
鲜明索伦蒂诺风，索伦蒂诺版《罗马》，然而青年躁动和时代的那不勒斯结合略散。
这么幽默又相爱的父母，就这么没了，真让人伤心，拍电影确实需要很大的勇气。
去罗马是逃避。这里有很多故事。感觉剪辑有些问题，摄影上不像绝美之城的运动镜头。Naples真好看
我似乎一夜长大，坐上了前往罗马的火车，就像远去天堂电影院的多多。
南義的人文氣息有別於北義，感覺離歐洲的核心文化更遠，但也許這才是真正的歐洲。
Filippo Scotti，美丽的男孩。接下来，他将，胸毛越来越多，肚子越来越大……
索伦蒂诺多次公开表示过自己对马拉多纳的热爱，也从不吝于直接在作品里向偶像致意，但恐怕只有在看过这部作品才能真正理解他如此钟情于马拉多纳不仅仅是因为对方是一名顶级球星，更是直接影响到他整个人生。前半段给人感觉像是写给家乡和家族的情书，后半段猝不及防的变故让人惊讶于这片竟然如会如此私人化，想必索伦蒂诺花了很久才能把这段隐秘而伤痛的往事以如此平静的方式讲述出来，一家三口坐在摩托上有说有笑的回忆杀太戳人了。
本届电影节的最爱就是你了 @SFF2021
这次的索伦蒂诺还挺喜欢的。口哨声，海船在海上行驶的声音。
“使他觉得遥远的不是时间长，而是两三件无法挽回的事 ”
关于回忆的电影总是非常之美，所有的画面都在呈现一种流动的特质，当往事一桩桩一件件透过影像再次在面前展开，即便是那些被美化了的细节也会变得真实起来，但遗憾的是人们已经不再有耐心在离乡的火车上看看窗外了，所以当我看到老马的上帝之手在片中扮演关键节点，后来拿坡里登顶的喜悦也只能被关闭，徒留一种惘然若失的悲伤。
刚开始一直压住配乐，还以为索伦蒂诺终于要朴实真诚一把了，结果好家伙，原来是为了给结尾攒个大的。直男版《85盛夏》，后半段又俗又腻，没有《85盛夏》那么做作的结构，但《上帝之手》却彻底陷入了无话可说的境地，索伦蒂诺以”个人经历“为免死金牌，将活生生的人和城市压成了标本书签，实在让人怀疑导师洋洋洒洒的那一大段教诲，他到底有没有听进去……
人间指南
还是那么奔放热情美丽的意大利。整个片子都非常私人化，如果观众比如我带入不进去那就会无法得到观影乐趣。
绝不垮掉！忘记痛苦，拍电影要想点好玩的事！
这次的索伦蒂诺还挺喜欢的。口哨声，海船在海上行驶的声音。
导演的自传体电影中，我最喜欢的是阿莫多瓦的《痛苦与荣耀》，其次就是这部《上帝之手》。和以往索伦蒂诺那种华丽的高度形式化的拍摄方式不同，这次他褪去了所有缥缈浮夸的修饰辞藻，戏谑的姿态转而化为了平易近人的温柔。索伦蒂诺回顾了他的少年时代，关于故乡那不勒斯、父母家庭、性启蒙、还有马拉多纳的巅峰时刻。任何时候当一个创作者愿意毫无掩饰的表露自己内心深处最柔软、最脆弱的那一面，并一层层剥开给观众看，这都是令人敬佩的。或许到了某一个年龄，这些大导演都以某种方式开始回顾自己的一生，坦诚的面对自己。
《上帝之手》过于私人了！那不勒斯太美了，又隐匿着多少人破碎的心和垂着的梦
略显做作，有些地方实在比较刻意。拍得有点急了，碎了。怎么剪都觉得紧。
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