Studying film at university, we’re introduced to the concept of a film “canon”, essentially a big list of films that everyone with an interest in films should watch and clamour over, and I can’t say I’m a big fan of the concept. For one, it feels intrinsically limiting to the formation of a film nerd’s taste — everyone has seen Citizen Kane, why are you different? So, I guess I’m kind of taking a reactionary stand point versus that module, but once in a while something comes up. For me, Bergman’s The Seventh Seal is that thing that came up.
It’s fucking hilarious! For a film associated with the po-faced, pretentious, impenetrable art cinema of Europe, it definitely holds its own as a genuine piece of entertainment, mostly centred on the antics of Death himself. He’s a loveable douchebag, in essence. Constantly sharing a wry smile with his eventual victims, even the occasional joke blacker than his clothing — my favourite scene is composed of him sawing down a tree an actor is hiding in — and generally being a charismatic so and so. It’s refreshing to see a depiction of Death as a practical joker, rather than a grim, dark murdering loser, and the impact on modern comedies is easy to see, from Monty Python right through to the slacker Death seen in Family Guy. I suppose that is something I can say for the film canon, people clearly pay attention to and absorb it.
Furthermore, the artistry of the film is plain to see — the cinematography is fantastic, with a rich black and white contrast throughout and gorgeous vistas. The improvised shot of Death dancing with his victims across a hill with the clouds swirling is a sight to behold for sure, and it is just one of many “wow” shots that are dotted throughout the film. This extends to entire scenes as well, following the black comedy of some scenes is an extremely intense scene revolving around a procession of flagellants (people who torture themselves to appease God during the black plague) which gave me serious chills while watching it. The bassy tones of the chanting combined with the imagery of these people at their wits end horribly harming themselves was a scene of intense power, one which was amplified by the lighter touch of the wider film. That shows the touch of a crew who know what the fuck they are doing, and are able of balancing such bleakness with the inherent comedy of Death playing chess.
So, ultimately, it is a film worthy of being placed in a canon, probably “the” canon. It’s at the very least in my canon, being a person with a raging interest in historical films. That’s another thing the film totally nails — it all feels very medieval and accurate to the period. Hard to describe why, but it seems to capture the desperation of the people, and the willingness to wholesale buy into faith in times when the vast majority of the population is dying. That creates one of the most interesting dichotomies in a film that I have seen in a while; a man holding a total crisis of faith at the face of Death himself, in a land gripped in a death rattle of prayer and disease. The Seventh Seal holds a lot to say on the nature of human faith, and I’d imagine would be of great interest to theists and atheists and agnostics of all walks.
Personally, I’m a pretentious bastard so I was down for a Swedish art film, but I got blacker than black comedy instead. Win win.
filmbrothers2016 