"The Seventh Seal"
1957
Directed by Ingmar Bergman

Perhaps Bergman's supreme artistic achievement, The Seventh Seal is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. Ingmar and acclaimed cinematographer Gunnar Fischer combine symbolic imagery, realistic details, and wry humor for a mesmerizing, moving tale set in medieval Europe. Tormented by doubts, a knight returns from the Crusades searching for God, but in confronted instead by the black-robed figure of Death. Granted a brief reprieve by Death, the knight walks among his countrymen one last time and witnesses the plague's sweeping destruction and the fire of fear fanned by religious fanatics. Portraying the cruelty, terror, charity, and lustiness that coexisted during this dark era, a superb cast of Bergman regulars sheds light on the sources of happiness and suffering in the modern age. Featuring Max Von Sydow, Bibi Andersson, Gunnar Bjornstrand, and Nils Poppe. Swedish with English subtitles. Black and white.  96 minutes.

Guest Comments

From:  "ray"

"simply the most powerful film that explores the greatest questions in life. the cinematography is splendid- the scene with the knight playing chess with death"