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The Seventh Seal

Original title: Det sjunde inseglet
  • 1957
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
208K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,190
67
The Seventh Seal (1957)
Psychological DramaDramaFantasy

A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.A knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades 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
  • Writer
    • Ingmar Bergman
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Bengt Ekerot
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    208K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,190
    67
    • Director
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Writer
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Stars
      • Max von Sydow
      • Gunnar Björnstrand
      • Bengt Ekerot
    • 436User reviews
    • 142Critic reviews
    • 88Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #220
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos214

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    Top cast46

    Edit
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Antonius Block
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    Gunnar Björnstrand
    • Squire Jöns
    Bengt Ekerot
    Bengt Ekerot
    • Death
    Nils Poppe
    Nils Poppe
    • Jof…
    Bibi Andersson
    Bibi Andersson
    • Mia…
    Inga Gill
    Inga Gill
    • Lisa - Blacksmith's Wife
    Maud Hansson
    Maud Hansson
    • Witch
    Inga Landgré
    Inga Landgré
    • Karin - Block's Wife
    Gunnel Lindblom
    Gunnel Lindblom
    • Girl
    Bertil Anderberg
    Bertil Anderberg
    • Raval
    Anders Ek
    Anders Ek
    • The Monk
    Åke Fridell
    Åke Fridell
    • Blacksmith Plog
    Gunnar Olsson
    Gunnar Olsson
    • Albertus Pictor, Church Painter
    Erik Strandmark
    Erik Strandmark
    • Jonas Skat
    Siv Aleros
    • Flagellant
    • (uncredited)
    Sten Ardenstam
    • Knight
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Asklund
    • The Landlord
    • (uncredited)
    Benkt-Åke Benktsson
    Benkt-Åke Benktsson
    • Merchant at the Inn
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Writer
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ingmar Bergman credited the film with helping him overcome his crippling fear of death. Because the film dealt so overtly with the subject, he found it a highly cathartic experience.
    • Goofs
      The chess players focus on capturing the Queen. The Queen was not a super-powerful piece until centuries later when a recent chess-variant initially called "chess of the mad queen" became more popular than the classic game.
    • Quotes

      Antonius Block: We must make an idol of our fear, and call it god.

    • Connections
      Edited into Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      Hållas mellan rona
      Music by Erik Nordgren

      Lyrics by Ingmar Bergman

      Sung by Gunnar Björnstrand

    User reviews436

    Featured review
    10/10

    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++
    • Quinoa1984
    • Jul 24, 2002
    • Permalink

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    FAQ23

    • How long is The Seventh Seal?Powered by Alexa
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    • To what does the "seventh seal" refer?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 13, 1958 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Sweden
    • Languages
      • Swedish
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • El séptimo sello
    • Filming locations
      • Hovs Hallar - Naturreservat, Skåne län, Sweden(Opening beach scene and ending scene)
    • Production company
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $150,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $311,212
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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