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.
实际上。。。。猪的脂肪率要比人的低多了，夫妻俩还在找那么肥的素食者，伊朗猪好吃难道是所谓的脂肪香么？哈哈哈
真的哈哈哈哈。血腥好笑，前两个猎物身材都很棒！
真成“草饲肉”叻。还是有几分清新的浑然天成感啊。
像数次出现的《奥德赛》的词句，海上历险与倒叙。被强调的元素都与梦魇相连，房间壁纸的船与海，钨丝灯，书中的人物像，和象棋。下赢这盘棋，从米尔科手中、也从大都会酒店前台拿回手表。对纳粹有用的一个奥地利犹太人，非神志丧失而不能赢，时代死局。耀眼阳光只是幻觉。
还挺有趣的。黑色幽默呀，这个版本的翻译老是致敬黄秋生也是醉了。
想起一个更极端的群体 果食主义者 植物也是有生命的 所以只吃自然掉落下来的果实...
不过抱着娱乐的心态去看，蛮爽的。
这。会不会被素食者拉黑啊？黑色幽默版人肉叉烧包。
冷门佳片，可以值4星。剧情架构和男主演技炸裂，影帝水准。
如果有遗憾当然是那个明媚午后，胸前流淌着草莓味儿融化冰淇淋的小维尼了。那是何等美味啊～多汁滑嫩没有世俗过分侵扰的不寄存情绪毒素的肉身～这所谓毕生遗憾！手里的汉堡索然无味……肉是有等级的！而我吃的一直不好。
茨维格的中篇小说里，最喜欢《象棋的故事》。电影虽不及原著，但改编也不错，男主演技好，最后的棋局拍的相当精彩。
救命我真的看饿了，拍得好香好好吃啊！本肉食爱好者想立刻去大炫烤猪五花！肉店夫妻档联手猎食素食者，全程搞笑，看的黄秋生版本狠狠地get了，感谢有趣的字幕组- ̗̀(๑ᵔ⌔ᵔ๑)
哈哈，同样的吃人题材，角度要比《新鲜》的老套路好玩多了。
喜剧恐怖片，说到黄秋生的时候我笑了，果然就是那么简单的卖肉。
太搞笑了，美中不足的是结尾有点仓促，要是朋友肉贩子吃过伊朗猪肉后也开始贩卖就完美了
肉食者复仇极端素食者展现的极端行径，幽默对话不那么幽默，但占了大篇幅
如果说《新鲜》只是一个变态传奇，那《肉罢不能》更像一种极性社会的反向控诉。
后续接二连三的受害者用上轻松的音乐，欢乐的氛围，让故事看起来像是白手起家的成功主义电影，观众会暂时忘记这是犯罪的。
好好看哦，一路嘲讽政治正确，台词幽默细节到位！真好！
短小精悍，法国人黑起各种xx主义起来真是流弊，为了吃上一口好的新鲜“伊朗猪肉”简直无所不用其极，爽的飞起！各种黑色幽默展现我觉得离不开字幕组的巧夺天工，尤其黄秋生的名作贯穿始终让人拍案叫绝。最后镜头后悔台词其实我们也是这种感觉啊，这个不做“美味佳肴”真的可惜了~
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