The Seventh Seal (Det Sjunde inseglet)

Released 1957
Stars Max von Sydow, Gunnar Bjoernstrand, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Bengt Ekerot, Gunnel Lindblom
Directed by Ingmar Bergman

"The Seventh Seal" is a bold allegorical film about a man who has lost his faith. The knight Antonius Block (Max Von Sydow) joined the Christian Crusade (it's a shame none of the crusades succeeded) and fought for ten years to regain the holy land from the Muslims. The film opens with his return to Europe in the midst of the Black Plague, where he is greeted by Death (Bengt Ekerot). Death is presented as a solemn figure with a white face, black robe, and black eyes. It's a simple image, but a powerful one that works perfectly. In fact it works so well, it has been copied and parodied ever since. Antonius challenges Death to a chess game so he may stall Death in hope of finding the answer to one question--is there a God? He has killed and seen much suffering in the name of God and wants some evidence that He exists before he dies. There are some very challenging questions raised with no answers given. To give answers would be to cheat, since no one who is living can have those answers. Bergman is intelligent enough to know that, and his characters remain true to themselves until the end. Antonius is more frantic than ever, while his squire (Gunnar Bjoernstrand) remains steadfastly defiant. There's a quote to the effect of "No man can live with Death, believing nothing awaits him in the end." I think that sentiment summarizes mankind's dilemma, which is how to live with the knowledge of our own mortality.

Summary by Bill Alward, March, 17, 2002