The Seventh Seal
1957
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
A man plays chess with Death in order to get his life back. This is a concept that has been done to death since; hell, even the Sims has made this a feature to save yourself from the Grim Reaper. Not that I play Sims, I am way to old for that. Ahem. Moving on.
Other stuff happens, of course, but this is the iconic image that has allowed the film to endure so long. I am boring myself by saying this about another Bergman film but really, these movies are painful to sit through. Nothing ever really happens, which I could forgive if the dialogue was half good; unfortunately, it isn't. I know a lot of film buffs will disagree with me, but some films I am just not going to like. Unfortunately for me, and I guess the reader, there are around fifteen Bergman films on the list.
RATING: **---
Interesting Facts:
Bergman said he was inspired by Kursosawa. NO! You do not get to say that!
One of Bergman's favorite films.
Okay, I do agree with you here. I did not like this one. I think I like Bergmar when it's just about people and their relationships and just happens to have greater meeting. Not when he takes on a concept from the start and symbols and blah blah blah. That's when it can get a little pretentious.
ReplyDeleteI will take whatever Bergman hate I can get!
DeleteI liked this one quite well. In fact, I am still waiting for that horrible, pretentious Bergman experience I have been dreading since I started this mission. I am sorry you did not like it, Swedish movies, I guess, is an acquired taste.
ReplyDeleteI'm somewhat surprised I've not been to this page before... I guess I may have been avoiding what you may have felt was me just repeating the 'Sorry you don't like Bergman' refrain.
ReplyDeleteOK, I do like this one, but even I will admit it is not a fun movie to watch...
Like Rachel, I prefer the relationship Bergmans (So is the plural Bergmens??), but a good bit of 'fate of man and God' agonising is needed now and then. Even if we have already decided what the answer is.
I think I did like Fanny and Alexander...and maybe another one? Now I can't remember.
ReplyDelete