BD 51 The Devil's Trap

[What A Disgrace]

February 28, according to Amazon.

• The Devil's Trap (Ďáblova past, 1961) presented from a new HD transfer from original materials created by the Czech National Film Archive, Prague.
• In the Web of Time (V síti času, 1989): cinematographer František Uldrich’s documentary portrait of Vláčil.
• The Week Starts on Friday (Týden začíná v pátek, 1962): Elmar Kloss’ short film about Czech cinema exhibition in the early 1960s, and featuring The Devils Trap.
• Booklet featuring a new essay on the film by author and Czechoslovak cinema specialist Peter Hames.
• New and improved English subtitle translation.
• World premiere on Blu-ray.

[swo17]

Fantastic news!

[Calvin]

Amazing news! Hopefully it's only the first Vláčil Blu-Ray from Second Run

[ryannichols7]

absolutely amazing. while obviously Marketa Lazarova has no real need to come from SR, their resources are best used on bringing us Vlacil's other films, and this is a great start. 2/2 on releases I'll be buying this year

[MichaelB]

They've already said that they won't be upgrading Marketa Lazarová to Blu-ray because it's impossible to release it uncensored in the UK thanks to the 1937 Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act tying the BBFC's hands - and the chances of that legislation being repealed are pretty much zero. (Imagine the tabloid reaction if an MP proposed this as a Private Member's Bill - he/she would immediately be dubbed "the animal torturer's best friend" and would become an instant national pariah.)

But fortunately the 4K restoration that they'd have used is already out on Criterion for those who are Region A compatible and from the Czech National Film Archive for those who aren't (the latter is 100% English-friendly).

[MichaelB]

Oh, and I'm very happy to confirm that In the Web of Time is natively in 1080p - the Criterion equivalent on Marketa Lazarová was an SD upscale. Although that's with the caveat that the original documentary made extensive use of upscaled SD, so the visual improvement isn't apparent across the board, but you can at least appreciate Vláčil's notes and artwork in far more detail.

[What A Disgrace]

[ryannichols7]

any updates on order info for this one? prefer to get direct from SR as it usually allows me to get the new releases in the US on the UK street date

[charal]

I ordered it from SR over a week ago.

[ryannichols7]

I ordered it from SR over a week ago.

today I learned SR updates their "shop" before they do their homepage. ordered and will take note in the future!

[Bikey]

Beaver review

[Thornycroft]

Mondo Digital

[swo17]

So it's no secret this looks like a somewhat battered print for an unrestored film, but part of me prefers it that way, as it's otherwise top-notch in the presentation department so it really feels like an authentic filmgoing experience. (I would gladly purchase more unrestored films looking this good, whether from Second Run or any other label.) The film itself is another exponential leap above the already very good Holubice, both of which would of course be left in the dust by Vláčil's follow-up. Still, I love the aesthetic of the subtly droning score elevating tension of the proceedings throughout, or the repeated trope of the slow aerial zoom approaching the farmhouse. The Kloss short presents an interesting sidebar to the film and the short doc by the cinematographer of Valley of the Bees and Adelheid has some good dialogue with Vláčil, though it's a little iffy that the highlight reel of all of his "beautiful, artistic" images (with hours of footage to choose from) has to feature the rape scene from Marketa Lazarová

[ryannichols7]

I also really liked the unrestored film, I was worried it was going to be in too dire of condition but I should know to trust Second Run. loved the reel markers, the damage line that was there for a large part of it, etc..it definitely felt more like a projected film.

found this film weirdly comforting, I've only seen Marketa prior to this and I might've actually liked this better? felt more in line with Bergman and Dreyer in terms of telling a simpler story with deeper themes rather than a complex one that can be a little over-exerted. I've been watching a lot of the Czechoslovak new wave films for the ongoing 60s projects, and I felt this film's allegory using religion to dissect the regime at the time was a lot more creative than a lot of others from the same period. plus Vláčil doesn't necessarily make it the forefront (I don't think, at least) and focuses on his film and its story, with any sort of connections to the contemporary Czech time period feeling more like a coincidence than a "oh by the way guys look, this is what we're going through" like some other films from the period. I did really love that Vláčil sets up a big climax but pulls the rug out from underneath the audience and allows the ambiguity to remain. kinda helped it remain in a more poetic, dreamlike state and I thought it worked really well. haven't gotten to the extras yet but I do look forward to reading the essay from the invaluable Peter Hames.

hope Adelheid and Valley of the Bees come soon!

[swo17]

You just reminded me of something Vláčil said in the doc that struck me, about how the closest artform to cinema is poetry, certainly at least given his approach to it