Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		5.0

The Seventh Seal Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 22, 2018

Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal" (1957) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; archival audio commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie; additional featurettes; audio interview with actor Max von Sydow; and more. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The knight

A knight (Max von Sydow) and his squire (Gunnar Bjornstrand) are returning home from the Crusades. Exhausted, they decide to spend the night on a desolate beach. On the morning after the knight encounters Death (Bengt Ekerot), who tells him that his time is up. The knight isn’t afraid, but before he accepts his fate he asks Death to answer a few questions for him -- Does God exist? Who is He? Is there life after death?

The knight also challenges Death to a game of chess. If he wins, Death will have to let him live. If he loses, Death can have his soul. Death quickly agrees and the two begin playing. Very soon, however, the knight realizes that he might have underestimated his opponent.

As they continue their journey back home, the knight and his squire encounter a group of actors. They also befriend Jof/Joseph (Nils Poppe) and Mia/Marry (Bibi Andersson), a young couple with a beautiful child, who choose to join them. Later on, while passing through a village devastated by the plague, the knight and his squire witness the burning of a young girl (Gunnel Lindblom) who has apparently embraced the devil.

At his castle, the knight is greeted by his beloved wife (Inga Landgré) -- everyone else has run away fearing the plague; she is the only one left. Nevertheless, the knight is moved and excited about the future. However, out of the shadows, Death reappears and declares that it is time that they finish their chess game.

Partially inspired by Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, The Seventh Seal is undoubtedly one of the boldest films ever made. It is dark and notably pessimistic, questioning morality and faith in a manner few films since its release have been able to replicate. Nowadays, it is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.

The Seventh Seal, however, is not a universally praised film. During the years, some questioned its religious symbolism, pointing out how ironic Bergman’s address of God and His existence is, countered only by the suspiciously clueless Death. Some also questioned the knight’s pessimistic view on life (believed to be Bergman’s) -- was it fueled by his inability to accept reality, or was it His fault for not letting him rediscover the joy of life?

The film’s rhetoric, however, remains as fascinating today as it was some fifty-two years ago. The fact that despite all the progress we have made we are still struggling to grasp the same old complexities of life that Bergman’s characters struggled with is very telling. We pretend to have become more tolerant of each other and respectful of our differences -- religious and cultural -- but we have only become better at disguising our weaknesses and bargaining our fears.

Technically, The Seventh Seal is a remarkable achievement. Cinematographer Gunnar Fischer’s panoramic vistas are amongst the best ever captured on celluloid. From the opening scenes where we first encounter the knight and his squire on the desolated beach to the passing flagellants carrying their crosses to the incredibly effective close-ups of Death and the knight playing chess, The Seventh Seal is a strikingly beautiful film. The cast is also fantastic. Sydow, in particular, is terrific as the disillusioned knight. Finally, Erik Nordgren’s soundtrack blends exceptionally well with the film’s dark and moody aura.

The Seventh Seal Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in aspect ratio of 1.38:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The new 4K remaster that was used to source this release is very good, but it presents a difficult dilemma which I am going to describe below.

When Criterion released The Seventh Seal in 2009 I liked the technical presentation a lot, and for a long period of time I thought that it was amongst the very best presentations of a classic film on the market. Technology has evolved quite dramatically since then and we are seeing more and more top-quality 4K remasters being done for a wide range of different films, but I still think that the first release of The Seventh Seal looks fantastic. So, this new 4K remaster does a couple of new things. First, it improves density, though I immediately have to say that the actual upgrade is very tiny because the previous remaster had all-around solid density levels. Second, it tones down and rebalances the contrast levels, which is a very common improvement that properly done 4K remasters deliver. Third, it has a slightly superior grading that expands some more gentle nuances, which is another expected improvement. Now, here's where things become complicated. The new 4K remaster conveys traces of denoising, and while they are certainly very gentle, they do produce undesirable side effects. For example, instead of looking 'tighter' and natively sharper (not sharpened) the film tends to look softer because of the adjustments. The real issue, however, is that darker areas and nighttime footage can also appear flatter, and in certain cases it is quite clear that fine nuances have been lost in backgrounds (see examples in screencaptures #10 and 23). Some of the side effects can also be observed during daylight footage where again it is clear that small nuances are lost (see screencapture #2). On a large screen I easily see these limitations, but I prefer the less contrary look of the new remaster. On the other hand, the difference is very small, and there is actually greater native clarity on the old remaster. To sum it all up, while certainly very good, I think that without the tiny adjustments the new 4K remaster would have been something truly special. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Seventh Seal Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Swedish LPCM 1.0 and English Dolby Digital 1.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track sounded terrific, with a rather unusually good balance in the mid-/high registers, but I am unsure if some new work has been done to further improve its quality. Either way, I think that it ensures a very pleasant viewing experience. There are no audio dropouts or distortions to report.

The Seventh Seal Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this audio commentary with film scholar Peter Cowie was recorded for Criterion in 1987. It was also included on the label's first release of The Seventh Seal.

• Introduction - his introduction to The Seventh Seal was created in 2003 as part of a series of introductions journalist Marie Nyrerod recorded with Ingmar Bergman to many of his films. Shot in the director's screening room on Faro Island, these pieces were designed to precede the films when shown on Swedish television. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080i).

• Bergman Island - in 2004, Swedish television journalist Marie Nyrerod made a trilogy of revealing and intimate documentaries in which Ingmar Bergman looks back on his long career in film, television, and theater. Those three films were edited into the feature-length documentary Bergman Island, released in 2006 and presented in high-definition. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles. (84 min, 1080i).

• Afterword - this afterword, made in 2008, features film scholar Peter Cowie discussing The Seventh Seal, in a follow-up to his 1987 Criterion commentary track. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).

• Max von Sydow Audio Interview - film scholar Peter Cowie conducted several interviews with Max von Sydow in 1988 for his book Max von Sydow: From "The Seventh Seal" to "Pele the Conqueror". Presented here are excerpts from his audiotapes. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

• Woody Allen on Bergman - in this short 1998 piece for Turner Classic Movies, Woody Allen talks about his passion for the great Swedish master. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080i).

• Bergman 101 - in this video piece, film scholar Peter Cowie discusses Ingmar Bergman's career by way of film stills, behind-the-scenes photos, and clips from many of the director's films and television productions. In English, not subtitled. (36 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - vintage trailer for The Seventh Seal. In Swedish, with optional English subtitles. (3 min, 1080p).

The Seventh Seal Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This new release of The Seventh Seal is sourced from a recent 4K restoration of the film and is included in Criterion's upcoming Ingmar Bergman's Cinema thirty-disc box set, which will be available for purchase on November 20. The restoration is very good, but it has some digital work done which I am not a fan of. In the technical section above I have done my best to explain what I see, what I like, and what I dislike, so that is where you will find my final opinion of the restoration. All bonus features from the first Blu-ray release of the film have been retained. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.