The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal is a film directed by Ingmar Bergman. The film was first released in 1957. It stars Max Von Sydow as a medieval knight named Antonius Block. The film is about the knight’s struggle with his faith in the face of death. The black plague is killing thousands. The silence of God is a motif that runs throughout this film.

The Seventh Seal begins with a shot of the cloudy sky. This is a representation of heaven. In the left part of the frame is a glimmering light and then thrust upon us is a bright light from the right of the frame. After the frame has been completely lit up we see the silhouette of a dove soaring in the cloudy sky. Then we are brought to a serene shot of a coastline with two horses at rest. During these frames the narrator reads a passage from Revelations 8: 1-6.

We meet the main character, Antonius Block, on that coastline with his squire, Jons. We also meet death. He is dressed as the grim reaper in a black cape but he has a human face rather than a skeleton face. His face is stark white and throughout the film we are drawn to look at it because of its contrast to the grays and blacks in the background. We are also drawn to Antonius Block’s face. His face and hair are stark white and appears to have an angelic glow due to Ingmar Bergman’s use of frontal, high contrast lighting. In the face of death, we see Antonius Block as our only hope even as he struggles with his own faith.

Death has come for Antonius Block. The knight invites death to play chess with him so he has more time to take care of some personal business. We see death on the left of the frame and Antonius Block on the right with the chess game placed in the middle of the frame, which signifies its dominance at this part in the film. Behind them the ocean roars. We are led to believe that the personal business Antonius Block has to take care of is spiritual, because we are then brought to a church.

The confession scene is one of the most significant scenes in the film. It gives us more of an idea of Antonius Block’s character. It begins with a long shot of the knight at the altar. We see the crucified Christ above him. Then there is a close up shot of Jesus’ face, which is spotlighted. At this point the editing of the next scenes bring us back and forth between Block’s confession and the crucifix with Christ on it. This establishes God’s presence in Block’s consciousness even if he is silent. The camera focuses on the priest. He is revealed to us and then to Block. The priest is death.

There is a character in this film that sees visions. His name is Jof and he has a wife, Mia, and a son, Mikael. Jof and Mia are entertainers. He sees a vision of the Virgin Mary walking a small child. In the background we hear a hymn. We come to realize later in the film that the Virgin Mary is actually protecting their son from death. Death desires the child as he divulges that thought to Block during a chess game. When this family is together the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it is a pastoral scene. We do not feel death lurking when we are with them till they are in the forest. Jof sees Block playing chess with death and they escape while death is deep into the game. Antonius Block also creates a diversion by knocking over the chess pieces. Jof is at the reigns as we see the family escaping in their wagon. There is a storm raging. Jof stops their wagon to let the angel of death, which is hovering above pass over.

Antonius Block, Jons, and their acquaintances reach the knights castle. It is very dark in the castle. There is a small fire in the fireplace where Karin (Block’s wife) stands. Antonius and Karin are reunited and they all have a meal together. It is still dark inside the castle. Karin reads the same passage from Revelations as was read in the beginning of the film, but she gets further. She reads 8: 1-11. In the background we hear a pounding. Jons checks and sees nothing. The archway is then lit up. We see death then off to the right standing in the darkness. They all approach him. The camera pans to each character as they introduce themselves. In the background, with bright lighting is Antonius with his head in his hands. He then begins to pray.

The film ends with all of the characters who were in the castle now hand in hand on a hilltop. They are in silhouette as death leads them. He has “invited them to dance”. Then we are brought to Jof and his family in a bright, sunny day. It is a pastoral scene once again. Jof sees the others in a vision and tells Mia, but she laughs it off.

I enjoyed this film. It is a film about complex subject matter that we all struggle with. I felt the film was done in good taste. Death and Antonius Block are good opponents in their game of chess, but who can escape death when he calls?