The Seventh Seal

The Seventh Seal (1957) Written and Directed by Ingmar Bergman Starring Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, and Bengt Ekerot. Story: The Seventh Seal follows Antonius Block as he returns from the crusades and is confronted by Death himself and challenges Death to a game of chess. The Bad: "Mute girl" as she is casted as in the film doesn't really need to be here. She has a purpose in her first scene but other than that one scene she doesn't add anything to the film. The Good: After Antonius challenges Death to a game of chess he and his squire goes to a church where Antonius confesses to a priest. In this scene Antonius tell the priest (who is really Death tricking Antonius) that he is doubting his faith and truly he is afraid to die because he doesn't know for certain if God is real. This is an extremely well written scene and as a person of faith this spoke to me on a whole other level. And its completely sold by Max von's performance. This film is filled with memorable characters like the squire Jöns, acrobat Jof, Mia, and blacksmith Plog who gives the film some much needed comedic relief considering the deep material. Another amazing scene is the scene where Witch is burned. Antonius is so desperate to find answers that he talks to Witch in hopes to ask Satan if God is real. When the realization sets in for both Antonius and Witch that Satan won't talk to them all you see in both of their faces is dred in the purest form and its completely heart wrenching.