Det sjunde inseglet

English title: Seventh Seal (The)

Also known as: Septième sceau (le)

Genre: moral drama (in black and white)

With: Max von Sydow (Antonius Block), Gunnar Björnstrand (Jöns), Bengt Ekerot (Death), Nils Poppe (Jof), Bibi Andersson (Mia, Jof's wife), Erik Strandmark (Jonas), Bertil Anderberg (Raval), Inga Gill (Lisa, Plog’s wife), Åke Fridell (Plog), Gunnel Lindblom (the girl), Maud Hansson (the Witch), Inga Landgré (Karin)

Director: Ingmar Bergman

Release: 1957

Studio: Svensk Filmindustri

Rating: -

MBiS score: 9.2/10

- Hey, MBiS, is this one like Dumb and Dumber?

- Uh, no… It's more like Grim and Grimmer.

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Story-line: coming home after ten wasted years fighting the Crusades, Block the knight and his squire Jöns find their country ravaged by the plague. Even worse, Block is met by a man in a black cassock, Death incarnate, who warns him that his time is up.

Pluses: a convincing recreation of the Middle Ages through outdoor and rustic settings, a brilliant, disconcerting and harrowing screenplay by Ingmar Bergman, formidable turns by Max von Sydow as a deeply afflicted soul and Gunnar Björnstrand as his friend and counterpoint, a very competent cast, astounding dialogues blending deep thought, religion, sarcasm and black humour à la Monty Python, irreproachable direction and cinematography, effective musical support.

Minuses: none, except that you may need some time (I took 40 minutes) to get used to this very special movie.  

Comments: although it raises life’s gravest question, THE SEVENTH SEAL is neither dry nor artsy; it features thought-provoking encounters and mesmerizing imagery. This one’s a great Bergman, a Cannes Grand Prix co-winner and an eternal masterpiece… no less.

MBiS

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