The Seventh Seal

As most of you know, I was a film instructor once. Ingmar Bergman, considered by cineastes as one of the handful of 'greatest directors', was among the auteurs I taught (in my Foreign Films/Classics class). However, instead of screening The Seventh Seal I preferred to show Wild Strawberries, a film that had a transformational impact on me.

So, confession time! Although I saw The Seventh Seal in college (back in the Dark Ages), and I've seen snippets of it since then, I hadn't viewed the entire film since college days ... and for good reason. It's not one of my favorite Bergman films. To film lovers that statement is considered heresy.

So, last night (Monday, February 11, 2008) I went to the Loft Cinema, in Tucson, for a screening of the film. It was part of a free program the Loft sponsors called "The Essentials." The theater was packed, and for the most part, the audience was quiet and entirely committed to experiencing this rare event -- seeing a most revered film on the big screen.

I was no exception. Foremost, what stood out about the film was the chiaroscuro lighting/cinematography. The style made perfect sense: Bergman's opus, at its simplest, is a confrontation between a man and Death! Guess who wins? So, it makes sense that the photography would emphasize the black/white dichotomy (either/or; good/bad; life/death), as opposed to dwelling in the realm of ump-teen shades of gray.

Another element of the film that stood out (and stayed with me) was the music/sound. In no uncertain terms it was obtrusive. Loud, abrupt, shocking, upsetting -- these are terms that describe the music/sound. As I remember, Bergmans films are the ideal blend of photography/script/sound/music/performance, et. al. -- with none of these elements overshadowing the others. I'm not sure what was the purpose unless, once again, it was meant to startle, to create unrest in the audience.

It would be irredeemable to talk about a Bergman film and not mention the acting. An actor closely associated with Bergman, Max von Sydow, plays the knight who engages in a chess game with Death. Tall, erect, stoic, oddly handsome, von Sydow's face was created for the screen. If ever an actor embodied the concept of "less is more" it is von Sydow. With the smallest grimace or eye movement he is able to convey extreme angst or careful calm. Since I'm writing this without notes, and very late at night, I don't have a list of the other actors, but several are worth noting.

Finally, the viewer should know that Bergman spent his life preoccupied with death. He suffered major anxiety and several nervous breakdowns. The Seventh Seal is tough to watch because of its fatalistic modus operandi. That said, I was rapt while watchng, albeit my breathing became a bit belabored on occasion. At least I was able to sit throughout the entire film, something I have not been able to accomplish with another Bergman essay on death: Cries and Whispers.

Who knows, maybe that will be the next hurdle for me.

If anyone reads this, I implore you to someday see the film, and if you find it is screening somewhere on a big screen, don't even hestitate. It really is an "essential" film for those who are interested in great cinema.