Director Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” is about Antonius Block, played by Max von Sydow, a disillusioned crusader returning home to Sweden as the Black Death casts its shadow across his homeland.
On his journey, pestilence is an ever-present threat, but even so, bonds of friendship are formed – creating an unlikely group of companion-travelers.
This film’s cinematography is truly remarkable; considering it was made in 1957, it has aged incredibly well. The framing and lighting are expertly presented. Most scenes in “The Seventh Seal” would make compelling paintings.
The performances in this film are equally impressive; and exposes the audience to emotions of despair, rage, regret, remorse, joy, hope and love.
The film’s time period revolves around the middle ages, which is now a time period that serves as a vehicle for commentary on the state of the modern world.
The film’s characters roam the land, seeking meaning with a backdrop of dread and uncertainty for the future, casting its shadow over them.
“The Seventh Seal” does not aim to depict an accurate portrayal of medieval life, but instead uses the setting and circumstances to explore modern interpretations of themes such as meaning and progress.
Bergman balances harsh criticisms of religion and praise for humanity’s will to live through artistic expression.
Block and his squire, Jöns, have just returned from the Crusades and are on the shores of Sweden when Death suddenly appears. Block knows Death likes to play chess and challenges him to a match, with his soul as the prize. On their journey, they encounter several scenarios that reveal different sides of human nature.
As Block continues his game with Death, he hopes to delay the inevitable, clinging to a life he doesn’t fully understand. We are all Block, grasping for answers as we come to grips with our own mortality.
The chessboard in “The Seventh Seal” is a recurring symbol that represents the human struggle to make sense of life through reason and strategy, especially in the face of death.
Though the film is set in medieval Sweden, it reflects the modern world’s shift away from blind faith toward existential questioning and individual thought.
While travelling through a thunderstorm on the way to Blocks castle, the special effects combine the different elements of storm clouds, wind and lightning bolts in a way that adds to the tension that has been building.
The black and white film adds a certain sense of gravitas in its high contrasts and visual composition. The lighting during night scenes are impressive, truly a technical masterpiece in filmmaking.
Block explores the human condition and merits of his own mortality through dialogues of introspection.
Jöns, played by Gunnar Björnstrand, is the cynical realist who has a disenchanted perspective on life. “Love is the blackest of all plagues, and the only pleasure would be to die of it,” Jöns said, “if everything is imperfect in this imperfect world, love is the most perfect in its perfect imperfection.”
Although this film was made in a previous century, the situations and wisdom found in it are relevant to the modern viewer.
At different points in the film, it advocates a view of meaningless existence by having the protagonist witness the senseless suffering humanity faces. At the same time, the film shows the comfort faith can offer a troubled soul in their final moments.
The film’s plot shows us that we all make different choices, some good and some bad; however, what each of us has in common is the collective struggle to find meaning in life.
In this introspective and philosophical film, we are reminded that Death cannot be fooled and comes for us all in the end.
