X
- 1958
- Not Rated
- Janus Films
- 1 h 36 m
- 1958
- Not Rated
- Janus Films
- 1 h 36 m
Summary A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Directed By: Ingmar Bergman
Written By: Ingmar Bergman
- 1958
- Not Rated
- Janus Films
- 1 h 36 m
- 1958
- Not Rated
- Janus Films
- 1 h 36 m
The Seventh Seal
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Directed By: Ingmar Bergman
Written By: Ingmar Bergman
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
88
87% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
88
87% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
13% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Established Bergman as a director of arresting visual and intellectual power. [6 March 1993]
A magically powerful film.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 51 User Ratings
8.4
90% Positive
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 51 User Ratings
8.4
90% Positive
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
The existence of God and the inevitability of death, seen through symbolism, are what make Ingmar Bergmar distinctive. Even without having a great mind, it does not require much effort to find the flavor, which becomes indefinable. The sequences of the nobleman playing chess against the messenger of death are anthology.
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From its shrieking, opening music to an ending that leaves a thoughtful impact, Bergman paints an image of Sweden during a time when The Black Plague ran rampant and brought turmoil to its citizens. The film creates an environment that is filled to the brim with cynicism with a hint of metaphors. The idea of life against death serves as only a subplot for a film that primarily focuses on how much stress the human psyche can handle. When all is unveiled, the film leaves you wanting more from its surprisingly short running time. Regardless, the film is dark, innovative, and smart. It is one of the most cynical films I have ever seen. For filmmakers, this film is a must-see.
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Ingmar Bergman's dark masterpiece effortlessly sees off the revisionists and the satirists; it is a radical work of art that reaches back to scripture, to Cervantes and to Shakespeare to create a new dramatic idiom of its own.
Max von Sydow gives a performance of a high order as the knight who returns from the Crusades to find his country at the mercy of plague and witch hunts.
The film in fact consists of a series of dull speeches spun on simple themes; Bergman barely tries to make the material function dramatically.
This is certainly a quirky and surreal watch - a surprisingly watchable one. The plot doesn't exactly entirely make sense but it also doesn't entirely matter. I'd say there's an element of farce about it and it even features some (brief) toilet humour/references, which is surprisingly for a film of its age (it was released in the late 1950s).
Its different to the usual black and white films I see or have seen but I thought it was surprisingly amusing and surreal, so its certainly an entertaining watch, even though it covers quite serious thematic material, mainly mortality. As the film went on, I felt more engrossed in the story and the characters, which has to be a good sign, hence my rating. The slow drum beats often present in the background help to add to the tension as well.
I'd recommend this particularly to fans of quirky, classic (perhaps arthouse type) films I suppose - after all, who doesn't want to see a film with scenes featuring death playing chess? (I wonder if the Bill & Ted Bogus Journey film with a similar scene was taking the pee out of that? I bet you didn't expect to read 'Bill & Ted' in a review of a film such as this but, well, there you go!).
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The Seventh Seal is definitely an interesting film that deserves its status as a classic. Well-acted and directed. What made it intriguing for me was the main character's attempts to thwart off the personification of Death while also trying desperately to figure out if there was life after death (so to speak).
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Production Company
Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
Release Date Oct 13, 1958
Duration 1 h 36 m
Rating Not Rated
Tagline A film of visual scope, of imaginative concept, of powerful content, written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, twice honored by the Interational Jury at the Cannes Film Festival 1956,1957
Awards
Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Sant Jordi Awards
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Cannes Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
