IMDb > Det sjunde inseglet (1957)
Det sjunde inseglet
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Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Ingmar Bergman
Writers:
Ingmar Bergman (play)
Ingmar Bergman (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Seventh Seal on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 October 1958 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Fantasy more
Plot:
A man seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
7 wins & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(34 articles)
Blu-ray Review: Wings of Desire (Criterion Collection)
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 3 November 2009, 3:42 AM, PST)

[DVD Review] Sauna
 (From JustPressPlay. 30 October 2009, 1:00 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Chilling, audacious, and awe-inspiring. An undisputed masterpiece. more (185 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Gunnar Björnstrand ... Jöns, squire
Bengt Ekerot ... Death
Nils Poppe ... Jof / Joseph

Max von Sydow ... Antonius Block
Bibi Andersson ... Mia / Mary - Jof's wife
Inga Gill ... Lisa, blacksmith's wife
Maud Hansson ... Witch
Inga Landgré ... Karin, Block's Wife
Gunnel Lindblom ... Girl
Bertil Anderberg ... Raval
Anders Ek ... The Monk
Åke Fridell ... Blacksmith Plog
Gunnar Olsson ... Albertus Pictor, Church Painter
Erik Strandmark ... Jonas Skat
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Seventh Seal (UK) (USA)
Riddaren och döden (Sweden) (working title)
more
Runtime:
96 min
Country:
Sweden
Language:
Swedish | Latin
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The last-but-one scene in which Death is dancing away with his followers was shot when some of the actors had gone home for the day, using some technicians and a few tourists as stand-ins. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: The story begins with a knight and his squire returning to Sweden after spending ten years away in the Crusades. His country is being ravaged by the Black Death. The last Crusade to the Mid-East ended in 1291 (late-13th century) with the fall of Acre, but the Black Death, also known as the Black Plague, first struck Europe about 60 years later in the mid- to late-14th century (1347-1351) reaching Germany and Scandinavia from 1348 to 1350. There were other crusades, such as those between factions in Europe, but they came either earlier or later; none of them fell within the ten-year period just before the plague. more
Quotes:
Antonius Block: Faith is a torment. It is like loving someone who is out there in the darkness but never appears, no matter how loudly you call. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in A Prairie Home Companion (2006) more
Soundtrack:
DET SITTER EN DUVA more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
To what does the "seventh seal" refer?
If there are seven seals mentioned in the Bible, what are the first six?
more
117 out of 134 people found the following comment useful.
Chilling, audacious, and awe-inspiring. An undisputed masterpiece., 5 May 2004
10/10
Author: Matt Huls (cowman777@hotmail.com) from Westland, MI, USA

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.

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more (185 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Det sjunde inseglet (1957)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
problem playing criterion version (ps3 incompatibility ?) Krown
I'm sorry but... ashleighnicole
Jof's demise is near pugnaciousboxer-1
Any Bergman recommendations please :) raydom
Why didn't the artists have to die radix111
Issues with the Chess Game Itself sf_fred
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