Det sjunde inseglet (1957)

A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writers:

Ingmar Bergman (play), Ingmar Bergman (screenplay)

Stars:

Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot

Top Rated Movies #157 | 8 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Jöns, squire
Bengt Ekerot	...	Death
Nils Poppe	...	Jof / Joseph
Max von Sydow	...	Antonius Block
Bibi Andersson	...	Mia / Mary - Jof's wife
Inga Gill	...	Lisa, blacksmith's wife
Maud Hansson	...	Witch
Inga Landgré	...	Karin, Block's Wife
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Girl
Bertil Anderberg	...	Raval
Anders Ek	...	The Monk
Åke Fridell	...	Blacksmith Plog
Gunnar Olsson	...	Albertus Pictor, Church Painter
Erik Strandmark	...	Jonas Skat

Storyline

A Knight and his squire are home from the crusades. Black Death is sweeping their country. As they approach home, Death appears to the knight and tells him it is his time. The knight challenges Death to a chess game for his life. The Knight and Death play as the cultural turmoil envelopes the people around them as they try, in different ways, to deal with the upheaval the plague has caused.

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Plot Keywords:

knight | medieval times | death personified | death | chess | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Mentioned in the Bruce Cockburn song "How I Spent My Fall Vacation", "like that guy in The Seventh Seal watching the newly dead dance across the hills".

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Goofs

When Death tries to restore the ruined positions of the chess pieces, it is seen that the king has been damaged, but in the following, last move the king is whole again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
narrator: And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space oh half an hour. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995)

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Soundtracks

Dies Iræ, Dies Illa / Vredens Stora Dag Är Nära
Lyrics by Severin Cavallin

User Reviews

The Quintessential Bergman Picture

One thing that can be certain after watching the Seventh Seal, outside of being thankful for living in this century, is that Bergman knows his film-making- and imagery. He uses subliminal and not so subliminal techniques to convey a dying, frightened world, where making a living is almost impossible and the debate of god's control over life is discussed like un-rhyming yet fascinating poetry.

The result is beautiful cinema, capturing the always foreboding fear and allure of the almighty and for the waiting death, appropriately staged in post-crusades, mid dark age Europe. Max Von Sydow gives an excellent showing as the opponent of Death (in a clever and meticulous chess game), yet the character of Death, played by Bengt Ekerot with chilling conviction, steals the show, if only for the alluring quality of the character.

Even if the story veers it veers in good and interesting territory, focusing on people who convey Bergman's point and or style. I can't reveal what the bottom line point is (many newcomers to Bergman's work won't either, especially if you're not in the mood for soul searching), but one thing is for certain, an allegory on life and death is shown perfectly in the second to last shot of the reaper and his minions following in a dance across the field. This is one of the most pure of cinema's masterpieces and certainly Bergman's best cine. A++

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish Latin

Release Date:

16 February 1957 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Le septième sceau

Filming Locations:

Gustavsberg, Värmdö, Stockholms län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

$150,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$230,571

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1