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About
When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
Theatrical
Oct 13, 1958
Box Office
$311K
Budget
$150K
Return
2.1x
DVD / Blu-ray
Nov 20, 2018
Theaters
1
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Writer
Ingmar Bergman
Producer
Allan Ekelund
Music
Erik Nordgren
Studio
SF Studios
Original Title
Det sjunde inseglet
Original Language
Swedish
Themes
chess
countryside
witch
blacksmith
allegory
symbolism
artist
last judgment
crusade
juggler
witch burning
sense of life
dying and death
matter of life and death
grim reaper
black and white
demon
belief in god
middle ages (476-1453)
meaning of life
virgin mary
black death
playing chess
death personified
death incarnate
life teacher
metaphysical
14th century
seeking a god
metaphysical drama
metaphysics, mysticism, kabbalah, spiritism
the virgin mary
ambiguous
Quotes
See all →Reflections on Life and Death in Film
Quotes about The Seventh Seal
*] in "Through a Life Darkly" a review of The Magic Lantern : An Autobiography as translated by Joan Tate (1988) in The New York Times (18 September 1988).
[[Woody Allen]
Exploring Themes in The Seventh Seal
Quotes about The Seventh Seal
The Seventh Seal was always my favourite film, and I remember seeing it with a small audience at the old New Yorker Theatre. Who would have thought that the subject matter could yield such a pleasurable experience? If I described the story and tried to persuade a friend to watch it with me, how far would I get? Well, I'd say, it takes place in a plague-ridden medieval Sweden and explores the limits of faith and reason based on Danish — and some German — philosophical concepts. Now this is hardly anyone idea of a good time, and yet it's all dealt off with such stupendous imagination, suspense, and flair that one sits riveted like a child at a harrowing fairy tale. Suddenly the black figure of Death appears on the seashore to claim his victim, and the Knight of Reason challenges him to a chess game, trying to stall for time and discover some meaning to life. The tale engages and stalks forward with sinister inevitability. Again, the images are breathtaking! The flagellants, the burning of the witch (worthy of Carl Dreyer), and the finale, as Death dances off with all the doomed people to the nether lands in one of the most memorable shots in all movies. ] is prolific, and the films that followed these early works were rich and varied, as his obsession moved from God's silence to the tortured relations between anguished souls trying to make sense of their feelings.
[[Ingmar Bergman|Bergman]
Visions of a Solemn Dance
Jof
Mia! I see them, Mia! I see them! Over there against the stormy sky. They are all there. The smith and Lisa, the knight, Raval, Jöns, and Skat. And the strict master Death bids them dance. He wants them to hold hands and to tread the dance in a long line. At the head goes the strict master with the scythe and hourglass. But the Fool brings up the rear with his lute. They move away from the dawn in a solemn dance away towards the dark lands while the rain cleanses their cheeks of the salt from their bitter tears.
Mia
You with your visions!
A Reflection on Existence and Despair
Block
Out of the darkness we call to thee, O Lord! Oh, God, have mercy on us! For we are small and afraid and without knowledge!
Jöns
In the darkness where you claim to be, where we all probably are, in that darkness you shall find no one to listen to your laments or to be moved by your suffering. Wipe your tears and regard yourself reflected in your own insignificance.
Block
God, you who are somewhere, who must be somewhere, have mercy on us!
Jöns
I could have given you a herb to purge your worries about eternity, but it seems to be too late. But in any case, feel, to the last instant, the immense triumph in rolling your eyes and wriggling your toes!
Karin
Quiet! Quiet!
Jöns
I will be quiet, but under protest.
Girl
It is finished.
Cast
Full credits →G
Gunnar Björnstrand
Jöns
B
Bengt Ekerot
Death
N
Nils Poppe
Jof
M
Max von Sydow
Antonius Block
B
Bibi Andersson
Mia
I
Inga Gill
Lisa
M
Maud Hansson
Witch
I
Inga Landgré
Karin
G
Gunnel Lindblom
Mute Girl
B
Bertil Anderberg
Raval
A
Anders Ek
Monk
Å
Åke Fridell
Plog
G
Gunnar Olsson
Albertus Pictor
E
Erik Strandmark
Jonas Skat
L
Lars Lind
Young Monk (uncredited)
B
Benkt-Åke Benktsson
Merchant at Inn (uncredited)
T
Tor Borong
Farmer at Inn (uncredited)
G
Gudrun Brost
Woman at Inn (uncredited)
H
Harry Asklund
Landlord (uncredited)
U
Ulf Johansson
Knight Commander (uncredited)
