The Seventh Seal [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [Criterion Collection]

Director: Ingmar Bergman Ingmar Bergman

Overview

Endlessly imitated and parodied, Ingmar Bergman's landmark art movie The Seventh Seal (Det Sjunde Inseglet) retains its ability to hold an audience spellbound. Bergman regular Max von Sydow stars as a 14th century knight named Antonius Block, wearily heading home after ten years' worth of combat. Disillusioned by unending war, plague, and misery Block has concluded that God does not exist. As he trudges across the wilderness, Block is visited by Death (Bengt Ekerot), garbed in the traditional black robe. Unwilling to give up the ghost, Block challenges Death to a game of chess. If he wins, he lives -- if not, he'll allow Death to claim him. As they play, the knight and the Grim Reaper get into a spirited discussion over whether or not God exists. To recount all that happens next would diminish the impact of the film itself; we can observe that The Seventh Seal ends with one of the most indelible of all of Bergman's cinematic images: the near-silhouette "Dance of Death." Considered by some as the apotheosis of all Ingmar Bergman films (other likely candidates for that honor include Wild Strawberries and Persona), and certainly one of the most influential European art movies, The Seventh Seal won a multitude of awards, including the Special Jury Prize at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/18/2023
UPC:	0715515282819
Original Release:	1957
Source:	Criterion Collection
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Format:	Blu-ray
Sales rank:	69

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Max von Sydow	Antonius Block
Bibi Andersson	Mia
Bengt Ekerot	Death
Inga Gill	Lisa
Maude Hansson	Tyan,The Witch, Tyan
Bertil Anderberg	Raval
Nils Poppe	Jof
Gunnel Lindblom	Girl
Inga Landgre	Block's Wife
Anders Ek	Monk
Gunnar Olsson	Church Painter
Erik Strandmark	Skat
Ulf Johansson	Leader of the Soldiers
Benkt-Ake Benktsson	Merchant,Merchant at the Inn
Lars Lind	Young Monk
Gudrun Brost	Woman at Inn
Åke Fridell	Blacksmith Plog,Actor
Gunnar Björnstrand	Jons
Siv Aleros	Flagellant
Sten Ardenstam	Knight
Harry Asklund	The Landlord
Bengt Gillberg	Flagellant
Lars Granberg	Flagellant
Gunlög Hagberg	Flagellant
Uno Larsson	Flagellant
Gunnar Bjornstrand	Actor

Technical Credits

Ingmar Bergman

Ingmar Bergman	Director,Screenwriter
Evald Andersson	Special Effects
Allan Ekelund	Producer

Editorial Reviews

For filmgoers of a certain age (baby boomers who attended college between the late '50s and late '60s), The Seventh Seal was their first exposure to the films of Ingmar Bergman. And indeed, the film has been referenced by other directors, from Woody Allen to Barry Levinson, as well as becoming the subject of a popular parody short, Dove. Although other filmmakers, such as Jean Cocteau in Orpheus, had dealt with similar concerns, Bergman made them more accessible. The Seventh Seal is a skillful blend of realistic drama (the disillusioned knight returning from the Crusades in a land wracked by plague and madness) and the allegorical (most famously, the chess game and further encounters with a black-robed figure representing Death). The historical setting provides a convenient vehicle for Bergman to deal with issues of death and spirituality that are ultimately timeless. The film also gave major exposure to actors Max von Sydow and Bibi Andersson, who both had small roles in Bergman's Wild Strawberries.

All Movie Guide - Tom Wiener