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The Seventh Seal

Original title: Det sjunde inseglet
  • 1957
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
209K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,183
29
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
    209K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,183
    29
    • Director
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Writer
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Stars
      • Max von Sydow
      • Gunnar Björnstrand
      • Bengt Ekerot
    • 436User reviews
    • 144Critic 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

    User reviews436

    8.1209K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Seventh Seal' delves into mortality, faith, and existential questions through its medieval setting. The chess game with Death symbolizes humanity's struggle against fate. Themes of societal chaos and religious fervor are depicted through plague, witch burnings, and flagellants. Characters like the knight, squire, and actors provide varied perspectives on life and death, enriching the narrative. The film's allegorical approach resonates with contemporary audiences, highlighting the timeless nature of its themes.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    Cowman

    Chilling, audacious, and awe-inspiring. An undisputed masterpiece.

    The mysteries of religion and death have long been a popular focus among artists of all media, including film. And while many films question these mysteries, they seldom provide any real insight into the world of the unknown. In Ingmar Bergman's THE SEVENTH SEAL, these mysteries are not only questioned; they are dissected, splayed, and scrutinized.

    THE SEVENTH SEAL could very well serve as sort of a manifesto for existentialism. Its deep acuity and haunting imagery is powerful enough to jar even passive viewers out of their complacency and force them to examine their own reality. The delicately crafted story centers around a 14th century knight named Antonius Block and his ongoing game of chess with a shadowy, hooded figure: Death. Bergman uses this allegory not just to personify death, but to illustrate the lengths man will go to in order to avoid it. In the end, however, Death is a much better player than any of us, and though he may humor some of his opponents by letting them think that they have the advantage, the end result is inevitable: Death always wins. No matter how skillfully we plan our moves or how determined we are to win, we can never beat Death.

    In Antonius's search for answers, he encounters a variety of very unique characters, each with their own outlook on life, death, faith, fear and love. Their commentary on such matters is often dryly funny and always brilliant, continuously and effectively challenging our perceptions of the world around us. For me, the dialogue was definitely the high point of the film, as it was extremely thought-provoking and carefully constructed throughout. Almost every line spoken is, in one way or another, daunting and unforgettable. Jöns's description of love as "the blackest of all plagues" is a quote that will forever be engraved in my mind.

    THE SEVENTH SEAL truly is a remarkable accomplishment in the world of cinema. It is a deep, mesmerizing, and darkly beautiful work of art. More importantly, THE SEVENTH SEAL is one of those rare movies that doesn't just entertain, but also has the power to change the way one thinks.
    Snow Leopard

    Filled With Memorable Images

    This classic is filled with a lot of memorable images - from the opening scenes on the seashore to the effective concluding shots, creative thoughts are combined with some fine camera work. There are several significant or interesting questions raised by the characters - from the imagery of the "Seventh Seal" in Revelation, to their simple but important concerns about eternity - but it is the way that the visuals play off of the ideas that make the movie so worthwhile.

    The recreation of the medieval world is convincing and effective, with a lot of detail to set off a varied assortment of characters with different personalities and perspectives. The characters are not necessarily very deep, but most are interesting, and are worth caring about. The ways that they deal with their discouraging situation make you wonder what it would have been like to live in their world. It's also a movie that in some respects is even better to watch over again, after you already know what has happened and can then pick up even more of the detail and imagery.

    No doubt the somber tone and slow pace will always keep it from being widely popular, and it's not perfect, but it's satisfying in a different way, and deserves its reputation as a classic.
    10Xstal

    The Curse of Existence...

    An abstraction of your fears, conjured progressively through years, walks beside you every day, may cause some to halt, then pray; it's a demon that's passed on, through generations come and gone, as fixed and certain as the tide, nowhere for you to run, or hide; is there a game that you can play, that extends your time and stay, with instructions and some rules, that don't leave you, as the fool; can the clock that's counting down, tick half as fast before you frown, and gaze with stoical askance, as you begin, your macabre dance.

    Signed, sealed and delivered as many times as you may care for, but the curse of existence is never knowing how the story really ends, or why it was started in the first instance.
    9elvircorhodzic

    "I want knowledge! Not faith, not assumptions, but knowledge."

    THE SEVENTH SEAL is a film that presents a dramatic fantasy game between meaning of life and fear of death. A knight and his squire have returned to their country after a ten-year crusade. Deadly disease ravaged country. Knight faces Death. He calls Death on the multi-day game of chess...

    The story has touched serious philosophical and religious topics. However, the story is full of intrigue, dark humor and hope. The protagonists are distracted between the vicious disease, self-pity and torture. It is interesting to see a deeply disillusioned knight, a cynical squire who hates women, a cheating wife, evil priests, a mute girl and seemingly healthy and happy family on the same road. The truth is all around them. The main protagonist used to persistently ask questions to which only he has a valid response. This film reveals some controversial issues. Is deadly disease greater threat to man or the man is the greatest enemy to himself? Mr. Bergman has painted realistic effects of fear, horror, cynicism, surprises, love and health on human faces.

    Max von Sydow as Antonius Block, the knight is a more serious version of Don Quixote. Gunnar Björnstrand Jöns, the squire is a character who never changes his mood. He always has some sort of cynical jokes or words of contempt for each occurrence. Bengt Ekerot is Death in the true sense of that word. Nils Poppe as Jof is a juggler who has strange predictions. Fortunately, no one believes him. Bibi Andersson as Mia, Jof's wife is a beautiful and cheerful woman who does not fit into the landscape.

    Life is a hard journey. The rare moments of happiness are a sort of salvation. The end of the film emphasizes the transience of life and the power of death which no one can escape. Of course, only in the eyes of one of the protagonists.
    CinemaClown

    An Allegorical Take On Life, Death, Religion, Faith & Existential Angst

    Painting a grim portrait of the western world plagued by the Black Death, threading together several norms of the medieval era into a single setting, and addressing its themes by observing them through contemporary lens, The Seventh Seal is a fable of life, death, religion, faith & existential angst that, despite the allegorical treatment, makes sure its narrative remains somewhat accessible.

    Written & directed by Ingmar Bergman, one of the first things that stands out about this sermon is the dark & deathlike atmosphere the plot comes drenched in. Add to that, the whole premise of playing chess against the Grim Reaper with one's life on the line sounds interesting on paper. The story however piles on more subplots and digs deeper into the philosophical & spiritual elements that only slow down the ride.

    The crisp black n white cinematography is captivating throughout. Characters of all moods are present in the picture. The period details may not be appropriate but the gloomy aura is finely captured. And comfortably steering the film past the finish line are the sturdy performances, led by Max von Sydow who plays a knight locked in a game with Death itself, latter personified by Bengt Ekerot. And the scenes between the two are easy standouts.

    Overall, The Seventh Seal is actually easier to navigate than what I was expecting, and the parallels viewers can draw between the medieval pandemic and one we're dealing with currently makes the journey rather intriguing. Nonetheless, the relaxed pace & numbing speeches still made it a frustrating sit for me and failed to strike an emotional chord. As is the case with previous Bergman entries, I do get its legacy & repute but don't feel any personal love for it.

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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

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    FAQ23

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    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • 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

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    • Budget
      • $150,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $312,104
    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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