Saturday
May232009
Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 4:37AM Criterion Releasing 'The Seventh Seal' on June 16th
In a few weeks, Ingmar Bergman's undeniable classic, The Seventh Seal will finally get the home video release it deserves, with a digitally restored Criterion Collection DVD and Blu-ray. Generally regarded as one of the finest, most influential films ever made, Bergman's breakthrough asked the sort of sobering existential questions we didn't see a lot of in films of that era.
I'll spare you the plot summary because if you don't know the film, I'd rather you read more about it than I can devote to the subject here. But it is one of those movies that, love it or hate it, shaped the way movies were made and analyzed from its arrival more than 50 years ago.
Here's the incredibly cool DVD cover, something Criterion almost always gets exactly right:
Artwork courtesy of DVD Active
The Seventh Seal will be available on June 16th for $29.99 DVD and $39.95 Blu-ray. The extras are fairly scant; the only added features are interviews and commentaries. This is the second Criterion Collection release of the film, following a 1999 remastered version that has since been discontinued.
Get The Big Picture | Permalink | in Blu-Ray, Classics, DVD, Foreign Film | Print Article | 4 Comments | Share Article 
Reader Comments (4)
They also have an edited version of the Bergman Island doc added.
Ah, so it is. I breezed right past that in the features.
The Seventh Seal may be difficult to watch for modern audiences, but I suggest you give it a try.
It represents a different era, when films could still be made to the exact specifications of the writer/director. From this flows an incredible power to plant thoughts and emotions with the audience.
The slow pace, the lack of music, the wondeful naturally lit scenes are truly hypnotic and while you may not enjoy the experience the first time, you may become ever so slightly addicted to it.
It also represent an era when hype had nothing to do with films and the reputation of film-makers.
If you are ever so slightly interested in films, there is absolutely no excuse for not owning the Seventh Seal.
You should also read Bergman's script, which is a worthy piece on its own, reminiscent of great literature.
I will start with a confession, I'm a Swede and I have never seen the whole movie apart from a few scenes (death playing chess etc...) But, seeing this cover, I will definitely give it another try. Wonderful photo!. That's all it takes ;-) My 2 cents.