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Written by: Ingmar Bergman
Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Starring: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot
Rated: Not Rated [PG]
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Plot
In this Swedish language movie, a knight returning to Sweden after the Crusades seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he plays chess against the Grim Reaper during the Black Plague.
Verdict
Older movies can often feel outdated, as they've been recycled and copied endlessly. This movie, despite how influential, still offers a lot of depth. A crusader that hoped for glory returns to a land that's decimated. This is a man searching for meaning, for an answer. What he hoped and what he got are completely opposite. While he seeks, death looms large both in physical form and as a pestilence engulfing the land.
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Review
It's not the earliest film to depict death, but it's probably the most significant.
Antonius Block (Max von Sydow) returns from the crusades. Death (Bengt Ekerot) approaches the knight, having followed him. Block states he's not ready, in turn challenging Death to a game of chess to prolong his life. Block wagers that if he wins he should get to live.
Block is disillusioned, returning to an area ravaged by the plague. While death looms in periphery, Block encounters distinct reminders along the way. At a church a painter creates an image featuring death and the plague, stating it will draw more interest than a beautiful woman ever could. The knight confesses at the church, mentioning how he plans to defeat Death in chess just before he realizes it is Death taking his confession.
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| Max von Sydow plays Antonius Block |
Block seeks meaning in life, an explanation and justification for what he's done. He wants to reconcile the violence of the crusades with what they were supposed to be and the reason he went. He was convinced by a theologian to go, and now that man is a thief. He further undermines Blocks search for meaning.
Block encounters a woman condemned as a witch. He beseeches her to reveal the secrets of death, but he realizes she has no such knowledge. His search for answers remains fruitless. Central to his questions are the ruminations of God's nature; from the purpose of the crusades to the violence and then the plague that's killing people in the land. Where is the justice? Block searches for hope through other humans, but he doesn't find much of it. The answer to life is to find fulfillment. Block searches in vain.
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| Max von Sydow plays Antonius Block |
Death is inevitable. The game of chess represents life. Block tries to maneuver the pieces the best he can, but he knows what approaches. The game will eventually end. It's inevitable. The image of Block and Death playing chess is an indelible image in cinema history.
Old movies often are a product of their time as customs, natures, and styles are so different from modern movies. This focuses on a simple, timeless story; the search for meaning. That's combined with the ominous presence of death. The one thing no one escapes. The result is a timeless story than endures.
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| Title Card |
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