The Seventh Seal (1957)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

The Seventh Seal (1957) dir. by Ingmar Bergman

Considered one of the greatest films of World Cinema, many people have come to appreciate the directorial and narrative styles of this film. Personally, over the course of ten years, this film has pretty much changed my life and changed my entire perspective on world cinema and the possibilities of world golden age cinema.

Obviously, when it came out, Bosley Crowther was all over it with having only good things to say about Ingmar Bergman’s existential historical fantasy film:

"the profundities of the ideas are lightened and made flexible by glowing pictorial presentation of action that is interesting and strong. Mr. Bergman uses his camera and actors for sharp, realistic effects.”

Rotten Tomatoes has given it a critics’ consensus of stating the film was: "Narratively bold and visually striking, The Seventh Seal brought Ingmar Bergman to the world stage – and remains every bit as compelling today” with a 93% rating.

Another criticism concentrated on why “The Seventh Seal” was not really a mainstream Hollywood film with stating it was:

“…immediately apprehensible to people trained in literary culture who were just beginning to discover the 'art' of film, and it quickly became a staple of high school and college literature courses... Unlike Hollywood 'movies,' The Seventh Seal clearly was aware of elite artistic culture and thus was readily appreciated by intellectual audiences.”

Bosley Crowther’s review though, will always be my favourite as it has been for about ten years now and I will link the review in the article so that you can read it for yourself. I’m not going to lie, there is a part which is so well-written that every time I read it, I want to watch it again and again. Check out what he said here:

“This initially mystifying drama, known in Swedish as "Det Sjunde Inseglet," opened yesterday at the Paris, and slowly turns out to be a piercing and powerful contemplation of the passage of man upon this earth. Essentially intellectual, yet emotionally stimulating, too, it is as tough—and rewarding—a screen challenge as the moviegoer has had to face this year.The specified time of its action is the fourteenth century and the locale is apparently Sweden—or it could be any other medieval European country—in the fearful throes of the plague. A knight, just returned from the Crusades, meets black-robed Death on the beach and makes a bargain for time to do a good deed while the two of them play a sort of running game of chess.”

It is a brilliant section of the review and really makes you emotionally involved in the film. It goes on to talk about the progression of the film and the symbolism of wickedness and evil, the way in which people seek God etc. and here’s the review for you to read on this beautiful film.