During the anti Reformation period, a miller and his son were investigated by the minister of the Inquisition. At that time, it was rumored that their prosperity came from their cooperation with the devil. The Devil's Trap is a film written by Franti š A movie directed by ek Vl á? Il, adapted from a novel by Alfred Technik, by Franci š Ek a. Dvor á k and Milo š Kratochiv í l adaptation. Is this the first of three historical dramas? He was filmed during the Czech New Wave period (technically speaking, he was not part of the new wave, but these films were filmed during the same era of artistic freedom), before his more famous works "Lazarova Market" (1967) and "Bee Valley" (1968). The story takes place in the Catholic reform period at the end of the 16th century. The Karst of Moravia, located in the current East Czech Republic, tells the story of a miller (Witslav Wijraska) and his son Jan (Witt Olmer). They are suspected and investigated by the Jesuit priest (Miroslav Machachek) of the Inquisition. When the local regent (Cestm í r Randa) spreads witchcraft rumors, He was jealous of the prosperity of the miller and the respect of the local people. As Vl á expected? Il, this movie has always been an amazing experience. From the opening scene, a damaged Christ statue occupies the foreground, and a small figure in black walks along the horizon, which is an ominous perspective technique, to the amazing confrontation ending in the huge stalactite cave, which is a wonderful display of visual skills. Perhaps not as impressive as Marketa Lazarov á, but still full of stunning visuals. From a unique and diverse perspective, this highlights the director's extraordinary awareness of the framework, actions, and positioning of the emotional and dramatic tone of the scene. The most unforgettable scene is a repetitive shot, with the camera suspended and quickly shooting towards the miller's door in the air. The story here is very simple, and I want to say it's easier to understand than his later works. The traditional structure is not so much through expressionism film photography or real historical details, but rather through plots and characters to emphasize. The occurrence of these events is not surprising, and there is a powerful, almost supernatural, and mysterious aspect that has not been resolved, in fact, almost unexplored. This is somewhat disappointing, but just because it is so fascinating, I hope for more. The performance was excellent in all aspects. Especially the villain: Miroslav Machek plays the pastor, casting an evil and majestic shadow wherever he goes, and Cesmir Randa plays the weasel like regent behind all persecution. When V í t Olmer played the son of the miller, Jan, he brought a very charming male lead who fell in love with the cute orphan girl Martina (played by Karla Chadimov á), who became a dangerous target for competition between Jan and other young people in the village. Does this movie still feature Zden's memorable music? k Li š Ka (perhaps the most prolific composer in the Czech New Wave). Is this the second of his eleven collaborations with Vl á? IL, his works are rarely used, but the effect is very good, praising but never overwhelming the scene. The best example can be heard in the stunning celebration footage and dance sequence at the end of the second act. The Devil's Trap may not be a masterpiece, but it is still a powerful work with captivating straightforward stories and a glorious historical background perfectly captured by Vl á? Significant visual ability. This is a great piece of work and the perfect starting plate for preparing for the challenging feast of Market Lazarov á or the Valley of the Bees. It even has an easy to digest runtime. Therefore, it is puzzling why this gem is still largely ignored and neglected.
