DVD Review: The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection): Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Gill, Maud Hansson, Inga Landgré, Gunnel Lindblom, Bertil Anderberg, Anders Ek, Åke Fridell, Arne Carlsson, Gunnar Fischer, Ingmar Bergman, Marie Nyreröd, Lennart Wallén, Allan Ekelund: Movies & TV
DVD Review: The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection): Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Gill, Maud Hansson, Inga Landgré, Gunnel Lindblom, Bertil Anderberg, Anders Ek, Åke Fridell, Arne Carlsson, Gunnar Fischer, Ingmar Bergman, Marie Nyreröd, Lennart Wallén, Allan Ekelund: Movies & TV
Product Description
Few films have had as large a cultural impact as Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal (Det sjunde inseglet). Disillusioned and exhausted after a decade of battling in the Crusades, a knight (Max von Sydow) encounters Death on a desolate beach and challenges him to a fateful game of chess. Much studied, imitated, even parodied, but never outdone, Bergman’s stunning allegory of man’s search for meaning was one of the benchmark foreign imports of America’s 1950s art house heyday, pushing cinema’s boundaries and ushering in a new era of moviegoing.
SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
• New, restored high-definition digital transfer
• Introduction by Ingmar Bergman, recorded in 2003
• Audio commentary by Bergman expert Peter Cowie
• A new afterword to the commentary by Cowie
• Bergman Island (2006), an 83-minute documentary on Bergman by Marie Nyreröd, featuring in-depth and revealing interviews with the director
• Archival audio interview with Max von Sydow
• A 1998 tribute to Bergman by filmmaker Woody Allen
• Theatrical trailer
• Bergman 101, a selected video filmography tracing Bergman’s career, narrated by Cowie
• Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
• New and improved English subtitle translation
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Gary Giddins
Stills from The Seventh Seal (Click for larger image)
Remastered and Loaded Up with New Extras!,
By Cubist (United States) -
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
It’s safe to say that The Seventh Seal is Ingmar Bergman’s most famous film judging by how firmly entrenched it has become in popular culture over the years. Key images and scenes from it, including Death, the chess game, and the Dance of Death, have been emulated and parodied countless times over the years. On a historical level, it has also been credited with helping launch art-house cinema in the 1950s, along with the films Akira Kurosawa and Federico Fellini. However, this has done little to diminish what a powerful meditation on man’s search for purpose in the universe it is.
The first disc starts off with an audio commentary from the previous edition by film scholar Peter Cowie. He briefly talks about the impact that the first time he saw The Seventh Seal had on him. He points out where Bergman drew his inspiration for the look of Death. Cowie populates this track with production anecdotes along with an analysis of what we are watching as well as the film’s themes.
“Afterword” is a follow-up by Cowie to the 1987 commentary he did for the Criterion Collection. He points out the film’s rich humor, despite its reputation as a dark, brooding film about death. This extra gives him a chance to mention things that he failed to when he originally recorded the commentary.
“Max von Sydow Audio Interview” features excerpts of interviews Cowie conducted with the veteran actor in 1988 for a book about the man. He talks about his upbringing and his parents. He recounts his first experience with the theater and how it led to him becoming an actor.
“Woody Allen on Bergman” features a wonderful short film from Turner Classic Movies with Allen talking about his love for Bergman’s films over a montage of clips from them. He says that The Seventh Seal is his favorite Bergman film. This is an eloquent tribute to the man and his films.
Also included is a trailer.
The second disc includes “Bergman Island,” an impressive feature-length documentary about Bergman that was released in 2006. Bergman reflects on his life and career, coming across as a modest and humble man who tells all kinds of engaging anecdotes from his life. There are many clips from his films and excellent behind-the-scenes footage.
Finally, there is “Bergman 101,” a crash course on the life and career of Bergman by Cowie. He narrates over stills and clips from the man’s films. This is an excellent primer that traces Bergman’s career arc and touches upon many of his films while also providing factoids and analysis.
Search The Seventh Seal (Criterion Collection): Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Gill, Maud Hansson, Inga Landgré, Gunnel Lindblom, Bertil Anderberg, Anders Ek, Åke Fridell, Arne Carlsson, Gunnar Fischer, Ingmar Bergman, Marie Nyreröd, Lennart Wallén, Allan Ekelund: Movies & TV from AmAzon
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