The Seventh Seal

[DaveyJoeG]

http://www.criterionco.com/content/images/full_boxshot/11_box_348x490.jpg


I'd like to hear what you all think about Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal. I've only seen it once but I thought it was fascinating and would love to see it again. It was often haunting and several images from the film have stuck with me since my first viewing.


***SPOILERS***
One aspect I'd like to hear your opinions on is the film's final shot. The characters of the film are seen following Death in a morbid procession as Jof and Mia watch. I interpreted this as Death claiming them all. Antonius Block had managed to delay his inevitable death and in the end all his friends died as well. So Death took care of everyone, except Jof and Mia. So why weren't Jof and Mia in the procession? Were they the only innocent people in their group? That's what I assumed. But I'd like to hear your interpretations. Either way it was a beautiful shot and not one I'll forget anytime soon.
***ENDSPOILERS

So let's promote this Foreign Forum and start some discussion!

[DaN]

I havent seen the movie recenly enough to remember who jof and mia are but this is a great great movie.

I loved the last shot because its just so odd that theyd dance with death. Such a great vision.

I'd say this is bergman's best film. I loved Wild Strawberries. But I feel as though his main "thing" is making these pretentious movies about shutins. For example, Autumn Sonata was very well acted, but it was nothing other than a movie trying to be the most intellectual thing ever. There wasn't really anything special about the movie. Cries and Whispers was much better done but still had that damn pretentious feel and look. At times, I felt Bergman got overly psychological which is ok, but he didn't do it in a good way.

I'm not saying those movies were horrible, I'm just saying they weren't really that great. They were alright. Watchable and interesting, but nothing else. None of them hold a candle to seventh seal. I mean come on, playing chess with death? That's brilliant!

[DaMovieMan]

I loved it. One of the best from Bergman definately together with The Virgin Spring and Wild Strawberries.

Block managed to 'stall' Death a bit in order for the young couple Jof and Mia and their baby to run away, coz they were still innocent and were not corrupted by the world. That's what i think.

Death is one of the most interesting characters of Motion Picture history, the images are amazing and the symbolism is amazing. The introduction and the end is amazing.

10/10

DMM

[bowieee]

I can't get enough of the seventh seal. The whole script is intelligently written and the camera shots are top notch. *spoilers*********

The scene where the girls is burned at the stake took me forever to get out of my mind

*End Spoiler**************


If you like the movie you have to really check out the Scott Walker song of the same name. It pretty much puts the movie to song.

[BadCoverVersion]

Originally posted by bowieee
If you like the movie you have to really check out the Scott Walker song of the same name. It pretty much puts the movie to song.

Keep up the good work Bowieee...;)


Jesus, I caught this flick years ago, but never took much notice (verbally abuse me at will)...:(

I'm considering a blind buy...the Scott Walker obsession is raging within the very pit of me soul.

[Madeline]

About the ending... *spoilers, I guess* :)

The Jof and Mia being innocents idea was covered by the historian who did the commentary, but I'm still not buying it. After all, they did run off (whether they were aided by Antonious doesn't matter I think) when they knew that Antonious was alone in the mess. I would agree that Jof was an innocent (his visions, for one thing), but Mia was there as the holy mother figure, and not really an innocent. I guess it depends on how you look at it. The trio (baby, mother, father) was an innocent bunch because they had hope in the midst of suffering and whatnot, but I wasn't happy with how they abandoned Antonious. They survived because of it, yes. But at what cost?

I think I'll have to see this again. As you can tell, I'm a bit confused. ;) But wonderful movie. *I had to stick that in.

[Fisting Ackbar]

SPOILERS

My impression was that since the couple with the baby managed to leave the group, they were spared by Death.

I saw it yesterday for the first time and I disliked it. Call me a pathetic excuse for a filmbuff, but a lot of the scenes were ridiculous and seemed to go over my head.

[Paterfamilias]

I like this film, but i think i need another viewing. I love how Block is questioning and searching for the existance of God. This is some weighty stuff, though in my opinion, not pretensious.

I like the juxtaposition of Block and the Squire. Their two opposing views on life causing the viewer to consider the events from each point of view.

As for the end, I am a bit confused as well.

Jof and Mia escape death. But also absent from the "dancing with death" sene are the girl who says "it is finished" and the knights wife.

Man, i need to watch the end again.

[BadCoverVersion]

Jesus, I have absolutely hammered this film lately...and it subsequently has pride of place at the tail-end of my all-time top-20, and the ONLY way is up methinks.

Max von Sydow is a revelation as BLOCK...he blesses the character with inexplicable dignity...hugely charismatic and unconventionally handsome. Gunnar Björnstrand is captivating as Jöns, a truly meaty actor and a joy to watch. Bibi Andersson is enchanting as Mia...Shit, the entire CAST is tremendous.

The imagery is haunting, timeless and the cinematography is remarkable, there are countless scenes etched in my memory...some painful, some light-hearted and poetic. As for the story, well I know of NO other film like it...the sardonic chit-chat involving Block and Death...the questions of faith, the afterlife and the hugely moving scenes featuring the procession of "marked" flagellants, the religious effigy’s and the danse macabre.

Anyway, it's a STUNNING film...a 10/10 with no hesitation.


For a treat I've jotted down the words to The Seventh Seal, a magnificent song by the GREATEST solo musician of all time...well, IMO anyway.


The Seventh Seal - Scott Walker (From SCOTT 4)

Anybody seen a Knight pass this way?
I saw him playing chess with Death yesterday.
His crusade was a search for God, and they say...
"It's been a long way to carry on."

Anybody hear of plague in this town?
The town I've left behind was burnt to the ground.
A young girl on a stake, her face framed in flames...
Cried, "I'm not a WITCH, God knows my name."

The Knight, he watched with fear...He needed to know.
He ran where he might feel God's breath.
And in the misty church he knelt to confess...
The face within the booth was Mister Death

"My life's a vain pursuit of meaningless miles.
Why can't God touch me with a sign?"
"Perhaps there's no-one there", answered the booth.
And death hid within his cloak and smiled.

"This morning I played chess with Death", said the Knight.
"We played, then he might grant me time.
My Bishop and my Knights will shatter his flanks.
And still I might feel God's heart in mine."

And through confession's grill, Death's laughter was heard.
The Knight Cried "No, you've cheated me!"
"But still, I'll find a way...We'll meet once again.
And Once again, continue to play..."

They met within the woods, the Knight, his Squire and friends.
And Death said "Now, the game shall end."
The final move was made, the Knight hung his head...and said,
"You've won, I've nothing left to play."

The Minstrel filled with visions...
Sang to his love, to look against the stormy sky.
The Knight, his Squire and friends, their hands held as one.
Solemnly danced towards the dawn.

His hourglass in his hands, his scythe by his side.
The Master Death he leads them on.
The rain will wash away the tears from their faces.
And as the thunder cracked...

They were gone.

[spacemonkey]

Great film, loved some of the images in the film, they were really haunting.

I really liked the ending in the castle, it was very suspensful waiting for death to arrive in that dark castle. Nice spooky images, I dont know if this was meant to be a horror film or not, but at many times it felt that way. Loved the conversation with death while playing Chess, and the scenes involving that spooky parade and I also liked those scenes with the family of actors and their conversations, wich seem to be a positive side to an otherwise very dark film.

I also found Ingmar Bergmans "Hour of the Wolf" to be truly mesmerizing. Somehow this director manages to convey really haunting images that stick to my mind.

[Danny L]

THE SEVENTH SEAL is brilliant. It's also Bergmans own favorite movie. Shot in only 36 days.

[Cronos]

this is one of the greates foreign films i have seen

the story is excellent, the acting by the entire cast is also excellent, especially Sydow as death, it contains a lot of powerful scenes and is filmed perfectly

10/10

[Danny L]

Originally posted by Cronos
this is one of the greates foreign films i have seen

the story is excellent, the acting by the entire cast is also excellent, especially Sydow as death, it contains a lot of powerful scenes and is filmed perfectly

10/10


Death is not played by von Sydow. The actor portraying Death is Bengt Ekerot. Von Sydoe plays the knight Antonius Block.

[Hannibal21]

THE SEVENTH SEAL
Starring: Max von Sydrow (Knight), Gunnar Bjornstrand (Squire), Bengt Ekeror (Death), Bibi Andersson (Mia), Nils Poppe (Jof), Inga Gill (Lisa), Maud Hansson (Witch)
I saw this today for the first time in quite a LONG while and I definitely see what all the praise is about. I do like Wild Strawberries and Persona better, but The Seventh Seal is an absolute spellbinding experience. I guess what did it for me are the AMAZING images (the shots of the ocean waves at the beginning of the film, the gray dark sky, Death's first entrance), and the characters are some of the most intriguing, interesting characters ever; I'm still trying to figure out what the ending really meant, but I do agree with some of the opinions that are stated here. Compared to some of Bergman's other films, this does feel a bit more horror and fantasy like, and the surreal atmosphere left me in awe; but nevertheless, it is a deep, powerful, thought provoking drama; the performances are fantastic ESPECIALLY Max von Sydrow as Knight and Bengt Ekerot as Death (a mesmerizing, but at the same time, scary as hell character). The scenes are spooky but memorable, especially the scenes where Knight is playing chess with Death, and of course that ending/final scene. Not to mention for a movie like this, the film is pretty damn entertaining, despite it's somewhat slow pace. 10/10