The Seventh Seal is a film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. It was released on 16 February 1957. Set in Sweden during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight and a game of chess he plays with the personification of Death, who has come to take his life. The film is starring by Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe and Max von Sydow. The Seventh Seal is considered a classic of world cinema, as well as one of the greatest movies of all time.

 

Antonius Block, a medieval knight, and his squire Jöns return from 10 years fighting in the Crusades. They return to a country infected with the black plague, like the rest of Europe. When they arrive at Sweden, Antonius Block saw The Death, he talk with him and they come to an agreement; They will play a game of chess, if death loses, death will let the knight live. The knight and his squire will travel to his castle. On the journey they will meet various characters and they will see the consequences of the black plague. The knight will play his game of chess with death until at some point he will end up losing the game. Death tells him that he will take everyone with him.

 

This film is an absolutely masterpiece, and it’s the best film by Ingmar Bergman. Also the cinematography of this film is spectacular. This film is thought-provoking because when you watch the film, you think about religion and death. The film transports you to the middle ages because of the scene when the religious people burn a woman because she is the devil. The film is so dramatic, enigmatic and philosophic. The performance of Bengt Ekerot (Death) is very good, since it makes the viewer reflect on death and the acts we do in life.

 

In my opinion, it's the best movie ever made, I really enjoyed it and I liked it

because of the philosophical nature of the movie, I think it's an must-see movie,

but not for everyone, only for mature people. I saw this film because it’s one of

the greatest films of all time, but when the film end I said: "It’s the greatest film

of all time". When I saw this movie I felt a desire to learn about death, and

if necessary, as it happens in the movie, to do an act that would

give meaning to your life.

 

By Pere Domenjó Lázaro