A Great Allegory

The next year, 1956, all hell broke loose in critical circles when Det Sjunde Inseglet (The Seveneth Seal) were released. Here, without a doubt, was Bergman's most controversial and ambitious work to date. Obviously influenced by his own upbringing, with its memories of his father's sermons and the "medieval paintings and carvings on the walls and ceiling," Bergman has endeavoured to symbolise our current dilemma by re-creating an equally harsh past age. The result is complex, occasionally obscure and always intellectually stimulating. Stylistically, the film is beautifully "realised"; and the playing has the strong haunting quality of a legend.

Set in the plague-stricken Middle Ages, this allegory is centred on a duel between an idealistic knight and Death himself. Although their chess game is weighted in the latter's favour, it gives the knight precious time to ruminate on his own attitude to God and the condition of the people he meets. Fear, superstition and cruelty are present all around him, but there is also innocence. And Death's victory. when it comes, is somehow less complete and sweeping than it might have been.