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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 with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
- 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)
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Technical Details
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By Brian Lange (Chicago, IL)
Yes, the BD version definitely delivers.
As for the film itself, most of you probably have seen this film or some of his other work... so I won't comment much on the film, but rather the technical aspects of this film. I mean, a knight plays chess with Death, what's not to like about that?
Stunning image quality and sound. It's actually been a while since I've seen an older version, though I think it wasn't even the old Criterion edition. What I can attest to is that, like "Repulsion", the transfer is simply incredible. There is absolutely no way short of a projection of the film itself that will deliver like this one. The subtitles appear to have been modified a little, being translated probably better for today's modern age. The extras are not extensive, but a nice addition to the BD version of the film. Also included is a nice booklet with the film. It could be considered a "collectors" booklet, as it is nicely put together and informative... but to me it's just something that Criterion added as a bonus. Very nice, though.
Bergman's exposures and lighting come through so beautifully in every frame. There are some scenes that come across as "flat" but that has nothing to do with the Criterion transfer and was more than likely on the master print itself. I think this could have been adjusted slightly to get rid of the prominent grays, but it could have been Bergman's intention as well... that I'm not sure about, but it was certainly in the original film. What's gone from the original is a hissy, poppy audio track and there's not a single hint of dust or scratches anywhere. Amazing what Criterion has been doing with these old prints!
Keep in mind the aspect ratio is 4:3, (the ratio of what was previously the standard for TVs), not 16:9. It was common for films of that era to be presented in it's full frame form... if you have a projector setup or large enough widescreen television, don't worry it hardly distracts at all.
Also, you'll be glad to know that Criterion was smart enough to eliminate those ugly blue cases that most BDs are packed in. They have more specially made cases that are clear and just a couple millimeters deeper (the spine, presumably to make more room for the booklets). Much more attractive on your DVD case than a row of neon-blue cases.
By Byron (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
A breathtaking transfer of a classic film and the extras are fantastic. Criterion is sometimes stingy with the extras but they more than make up for it here. 'Bergman Island' alone is worth the purchase price. After I watched the Swedish-language original I even dipped into the English dubbed soundtrack which was surprisingly good. One of my best purchases of the year!
By Leah White (Toledo, OH, USA)
The is with out a doubt the best restoration of the Seventh Seal that I have seen. The picture and sound are amazing. If you own it on DVD, it is worth repurchasing it on Blu-Ray for the improved picture quality.
By Dennis Boodan (Trinidad, West Indies)
Criterion collection deals in mostly older movies from around the world, criterion has some of the best movies you'll ever see,take a look at their catalog.. this is a great hi def transfer of a great movie. A must buy without a doubt. Classic movies like this is the reason why i bought a blu ray player.
By SmashingPumpkins (Los Angeles)
If you're reading this, I assume that you know what you're looking at, so I'll spare you the plot synopsis.
The transfer, in a word, is brilliant. It is stunning to see such vivid detail in a film that was previously veiled in murk. (on VHS anyway) There is a LOT of grain, but as I understand it, this was a conscious decision by Criterion. Rather than artificially reduce the amount of grain, they left it intact to preserve the "original" state of the film. It was a bit off-putting at first, but I got used to it quickly, and I think it was absolutely the correct decision.
The film is a marvel from start to finish, and the wide shots in particular are nothing short of beautiful. The detail you can see in the waves of the ocean or the leaves of the forest is astounding. The sense of realism and weight that is given to the actors/costumes/settings via the level of detail is truly revelatory as well. The sound is crisp and clean, although I'm admittedly not a serious audiophile. Really though, it's the visual brilliance that will stop film nerds in their tracks. This is reference level stuff.
If you are a fan, this version of the film is worth every penny. I haven't yet delved into the extras, but the fantastic transfer of the feature alone is worth the purchase.
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