Though nearly every addition to the Criterion Collection is an incredible work of art and film, it takes a true visionary to create multiple works befitting such high praise and posterity. Of the few directors that fall into that category, Ingmar Bergman is one of not only the most beloved, but also most deserved. For our first adventure into his work, of which there will be many, we start with what a majority consider to be his masterpiece, "The Seventh Seal". Filmed in 1957, "The Seventh Seal" is, on the surface, a tale about a Knight returning home from the Crusades who encounters the personification of Death and begins a game in hopes of besting Death and carrying on his life. As the story unfolds, however, the Knight has a crisis of faith which changes the stakes of the game as well as the depth of the movie alltogether.
Set during the period of "The Black Death", we are introduced to Antonious Block (Max Von Sydow) and his squire, having returned from the Crusades only to find Sweden ravaged by the Plague. It is early on here that Block crosses paths with Death himself. Finally relieved to be on his way home and ready to enjoy life, Block gets Death to agree to a game of chess. As long as Block can continue the game, he lives and if he can win, he goes free, but if he loses his soul belongs to Death. Being a bit foolhardy and proud, Block thinks this should be no challenge. The chess game, although seemingly a convenient narrative device, actually is where a great brunt of the story takes place, at least in relation to Block's character. As the film progresses, we see Block go from playing the game so as to continue to enjoy life yet by the end he has begun playing out of fear of death due to his deteriorating faith. This faith will crumble more and more as the game wears on and Death continues to shirk answers and fill Block's mind with doubt.
Block and his squire continue on their journey home, finding themselves interacting with a variety of people along the way. This includes a band of actors whom after some altercations end up joining Block on his journey. His squire saves a young woman under attack and as such she decides to return with him and look after his home. One of the last people they meet along the journey is a young woman ready to be burned for giving herself over to the devil. Block demands of her to make her devil appear, hoping that some form will actually arrive so that he can ask it the true nature of God. She merely replies that the devil is already there. Shortly after, Block and his companions find themselves finally at his castle, yet all is not quite as hopeful as Block had anticipated and his game with Death is drawing to it's close.
The title "The Seventh Seal" comes from Revelation 8:1 which reads "And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour". This illustrates beautifully how Block has grown to feel. For years he had been fighting and killing in the name of God, but upon his return and being surrounded by and faced with Death itself, he continues feeling further and further away from God to point of wondering if God even exists. It's incredibly powerful considering the time the film was made and how that line of thinking can still inspire and provoke to this day.
With "The Seventh Seal", Bergman created a film rife with layers and layers of depth and resonance. The film's visuals are beyond striking, from the look of Death to the landscape views of particular scenes to the using of medieval art as a form of storyboard to some of the films final scenes. This iconography has lived on to influence people as far ranging as Woody Allen to "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey", whose Death is modeled directly off of Bergman's. The film also boasts an incredible cast, led by Von Sydow, who brings a young, natural charisma and bravado that realistically gives way to his crumbling beliefs and despair. He really sells the fear of nothingness he thinks may be awaiting him on the other side. That's not to discount any of the remaining cast as everyone does an incredible job at adding a certain bit of life and originality to their roles.
Bergman did what many set out to do, and that's to make a film that is everlasting. Over 50 years later, "The Seventh Seal" is still able to entertain, to challenge, and most of all cause oneself to question their own beliefs. When faced with Death, do we let it slowly make its way through us and tear down our beliefs, or do we stand firmly planted, no matter the obstacle we face? All in all, an incredible film that demands your viewing.
