James Christopher
Iconic Films
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From
July 19, 2007
The Seventh Seal
PG, 92mins
Ingmar Bergman’s black and white masterpiece The Seventh Seal has matured like a great wine over 50 years. The brutal reality of life in the Middle Ages provides the unnerving backdrop to this quest to discover if God exists. Max von Sydow is a battle-weary knight who returns from the crusades to find his country riddled with plague and terrorised by witchhunts. His journey home is cut short by the black-cloaked figure of Death. His time has come. But the knight wins a reprieve by challenging Death to a game of chess.
The journey limps on through villages gripped by disease and religious confusion. There are harrowing encounters with holy flagellants mutilating their bodies. A young girl is tied to a stake and planted on top of a bonfire. Death reveals nothing of God or an afterlife. Von Sydow’s heroic knight remains cool and stoical. His dwindling faith in a divine power is profoundly affecting.
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Since I posted this view, the great man has passed away.
Rest in peace!
Your films, especially 'Seventh Seal' will live forever!
prudence eely bond mcguire, Herne Hill,London, England
'Seventh Seal' is one of the greatest films ever made.
Along with Wild Strawberries', this film introduced the magical genius of Igmar Bergman, Swedish director supremo, to the discerning film going public.He was a great influence on the work of Woody Allen, who directed 'In love and Death' a wonderful satire on 'Seventh Seal'.
Bergman, is still with us to-day and recently directed another film.
Would his like could live forever!
prudence eely bond mcguire, Herne Hill,London, England