The Seventh Seal (1957)
A knight’s chess match with death.
Presentation:
Bergman gives us an existential fantasy story of a knight holding off death in a chess match. It has the same metaphorical art house vibes as his other films, but it’s much lighter and formal in tone. What ensues is a road trip of the adventurer throughout the Crusades with dark comedy. It’s quite beautifully shot, though very theatrical in performance.
Conclusion:
With such an interesting premise, I wish the film focused more on the metaphorical chess match than the road trip. It also references his other film Wild Strawberries, which was a fun Easter egg. I personally don’t enjoy existential themes mixed with comedy, especially when the comedy is as outdated as it is here. For those that appreciate classic cinema, this should your cup of tea.
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A knight’s chess match with death.