I am convinced that they filmed this in the 1100s, during the Black Plague. And our Knight looks like my great-grandfather, who was Danish, and this makes it even more real for me.
Delighted that you reacted to this film. Few today have seen it. The imagery and symbolism blew me away! This movie inspired one of the chapters about "The Plague" in Medieval Europe, in my novel, "Seeds". You mentioned Saharan sands in your boots and the sights and smells of lamb and spices cooking in Middle Eastern tents and bazaars. Yes, indeed. Films, myths, books and especially world music have colored and shaped my spiritual thoughts and visions. The ethereal music of Loreena McKennitt (a true bard) was the soundtrack of the book in my head and carried me to the conclusion of my novel of four mysterious missionaries that travel through time from Eden, into the future of Earth for its evolution of humanity.
I found it fascinating to get a devout Christian's perspective on this great film. As an atheist, I would interpret some of the scenes you framed as positing 'good' or 'instructional' Biblical messages, as... well, nearly the opposite... (for instance the procession of flagellants and their frothing, judging leader is, thru my lens, a brutal condemnation of what religion engenders... NOT a condemnation on us 'fallen' humans - I would conjecture Bergman believed God is separate from man - not the opposite. Although raised in a devout Lutheran household, Bergman stated that he lost his faith at age eight - about the time I did. That said, I enjoyed your commentary and... the fact that we can look at the same thing and have two different interpretations shows the power of great art - which The Seventh Seal, IMO... most certainly manifests. The work poses a myriad of questions and everyone has their own 'correct' answers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for watching this amazing film... it deserves continued recognition.
Hey thanks for the insightful comment! My Dad (who was an agnostic for much of my youth, but opening up more now as he ages) is a film grad and chewed my ear off about this film growing up. I did not know that about Bergman, interesting. Ironically, I resisted Christianity until 13 when I had a spiritual experience that literally made my knees quake! Once I reasoned that I was not actually insane, you could say I embarked on a journey to study as much of the Bible and accompanying archaeological/theological data as possible. It's true that I have a lens as you said -- as a Christian I believe that human beings are graceful creatures endowed with God's breath, made in His image and so we are possessed of great powers of intellect, charm, beauty, artistry and a moral compass. However, as illustrated in the eating of the forbidden fruit by Eve in the garden, such a creature through the power of its free will and those previously listed gifts can essentially create reality in its own image, and therefore come to a variety of conclusions to the same issues. I personally believe that many (not all) atheists and agnostics are actually wrestling with the breath of God in themselves, and as artists often do, portray that struggle on the canvas, or on screen here. It's a journey for some, such as C.S. Lewis. The Bible is filled with examples of such struggles, even amongst the so-called "devout", which is what I love about it compared to other books of religion around the world: its transparency. As for the film, yaaas! You're right, it is amazing, I'd love to revisit it actually now that im making videos again.
Thanks for responding to my comment... your thoughtful and well-conceived response made me think about so many ideas. I believe the hope for a better world rests in the hands of those, who despite elemental differences, find ways to exchange and accept. Two things... When I was. young, I did indeed wrestle with the breath of God... which permeated my familial ethos and extended community. I have come to believe now, looking back at 72... that was inevitable - not because there is a god, but because the omnipresent religious messaging flooded my subconscious expectations via every societal fountain... from Sunday school to movies to Christmas to every book, play, and mythological metaphor in Western art. I no longer wrestle with 'existence', but rather quest for 'experience'... And my searcing is not like the Knight's... who keeps looking through the same cupboard over and over only to find it seemingly bare, but rather, like Bergman, who explored hundreds of cupboards, gathering a bone here, a cake there, and a rare bowl of wild strawberries hidden in the recesses. The Bible, for moi, is one cupboard among countless stores of enlightement. Secondly, when you watch the film again (and it's worth a 2nd or 3rd viewing), take note of the Knight's 'quest'... which is to manifest one meaningful act before dying. In the last chess match, the Knight asks Death if anything escapes him. Death responds, "No one escapes me." The Knight then knocks the chess pieces over which distracts Death - allowing the family to escape... thus, the Knight, like Daniel Webster, 'cheats the devil'. This act is the most important moment in the movie. The Knight has 'saved' the family... his 'one meaningful act' is manifested... a 'sacrifice' analogous to a strategic chess move and Christ's sacrifice to save mankind. @@KensCinemaSofa
Hello there! It seems TH-cam has a limit to how many times they'll alert me to a new comment on a thread, sorry I never saw this or commented. I appreciate your analysis of religion and the film. I honestly had not made that connection between the knights action and that theme of sacrifice. I'm considering revisiting the film (partly because I now understand how to edit better so that it won't be partially blocked around the world), but also for better commentary. As for Christ, well, for this missionary, there is a whole host of evidence: natural and supernatural -- that points to Christ in my experience in the last 15 years in ministry abroad. Still, the closest to my heart, and to millions of believers throughout history, those who have passed at old age or at the edge of a sword is this: His grave was empty, nor has any record of his body being laid out before the public to deter this "myth" of a resurrected God from spreading across the Roman empire, been written. His death by crucifixion IS, however, by the famous anti-Christian historian Publius Cornelius Tacitius in his book "The Annals", mere decades after the event. But no mention of the body itself. There is only One that has prophesied His own death and resurrection from the grave, with history, even an empire, failing to prove the latter false. The Lord -- victor over death: the enemy of mankind -- desires the clay He's deposited His sacred breath into, for His children, regardless of race, creed, nationality: Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spiritsa of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth. -Revelation 5:5-10
Just one comment: it's improbable that the book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon. He lived in the 10th century BC, while the book is dated between the 6th and 3rd centuries, based on Persian words and some post-exilic grammatical features in the text.
Hey, thanks for stopping by! It's true that some books may be compiled in their final form in later centuries, but that doesn't mean that they don't use manuscripts from previous eras that were originally written by the original author. For example, Moses dies in the book of Deuteronomy, yet the narrative continues in that book. explaining about his burial in a secret place. How is that possible when Judaism teaches that Moses wrote the Torah? Well, it was an ancient tradition for disciples or followers to finish the writing using what they had from the original writer -- in this case it would have been Joshua son of Nun. He followed Moses up the mountain of Sinai, was very close, and his book, Judges, is next after Deuteronomy. Same for letters in the new testament, it's actually stated that someone else took dictation for the Apostle Paul - Romans 16:22 - "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." This explains the changes in style in the bible, it was an ancient tradition for many cultures in the middle-east and Mesopotamia actually: the message is the same, but because it's written by a scribe, the scribe's style shines through. It's just that in the case of Ecclesiastes, its a longer period of time between dictator and writer. Yet, Israel had all of the writings and sayings of past kings and prophets, good example would be the ketef hinnom scrolls discovered in 1979. Those are from 600 B.C. and said to be one of the most significant discoveries ever made. Why? Because up until they were found, researchers said that the book of Numbers was written much later. But as I said, though they may be written and polished centuries later, doesn't mean that the original words weren't spoken, etched in stone, or kept by whatever means ages before. The hinnom scrolls were writings etched on silver, so they survived many calamities throughout the millenia, but had to be scanned using computers to read them. They contain the Aaronic blessing as stated in Numbers, even written in Paleo-Hebrew, instead of Aramaic or Babylonian like later "official" versions, as Numbers as we know it wouldn't be "officially" written until much later of course. The book of Kings makes it clear that Israel had the raw data of the past written down in other forms before a "bible" as we know it came to be, as the hinnom scrolls proved. They had these materials in excess until Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C., and they were exiled. Check out my books on these subjects on amazon.com, or my missions/exploration website www.frontiersnova.wordpress.com. Thanks for the comment! o Let There Be Light: 50 tough bible questions- www.amazon.com/dp/B09QZYKCH3 o Sands of Time: Easy Guide to Bible archaeological Treasures www.amazon.com/dp/B088ZQD263
hey thanks for the comment Mike! Actually, i meant Cavaliers, here's an entry from Merriam Webster's dictionary: 1 · a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship ; 2 · a mounted soldier : knight ; 3 · an adherent of Charles I of England Im well aware of the knights Templar, and while they were much more well known for their spirituality, the Cavaliers i targeted because i am writing an adventure story and researched them. Thanks again!
I am convinced that they filmed this in the 1100s, during the Black Plague. And our Knight looks like my great-grandfather, who was Danish, and this makes it even more real for me.
Masterpiece. Thanks for reaction.
It's my honest pleasure, thanks for the comment! More to come, just regrouping after a trip back home.
Delighted that you reacted to this film. Few today have seen it. The imagery and symbolism blew me away! This movie inspired one of the chapters about "The Plague" in Medieval Europe, in my novel, "Seeds". You mentioned Saharan sands in your boots and the sights and smells of lamb and spices cooking in Middle Eastern tents and bazaars. Yes, indeed. Films, myths, books and especially world music have colored and shaped my spiritual thoughts and visions. The ethereal music of Loreena McKennitt (a true bard) was the soundtrack of the book in my head and carried me to the conclusion of my novel of four mysterious missionaries that travel through time from Eden, into the future of Earth for its evolution of humanity.
I found it fascinating to get a devout Christian's perspective on this great film. As an atheist, I would interpret some of the scenes you framed as positing 'good' or 'instructional' Biblical messages, as... well, nearly the opposite... (for instance the procession of flagellants and their frothing, judging leader is, thru my lens, a brutal condemnation of what religion engenders... NOT a condemnation on us 'fallen' humans - I would conjecture Bergman believed God is separate from man - not the opposite. Although raised in a devout Lutheran household, Bergman stated that he lost his faith at age eight - about the time I did. That said, I enjoyed your commentary and... the fact that we can look at the same thing and have two different interpretations shows the power of great art - which The Seventh Seal, IMO... most certainly manifests. The work poses a myriad of questions and everyone has their own 'correct' answers. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for watching this amazing film... it deserves continued recognition.
Hey thanks for the insightful comment! My Dad (who was an agnostic for much of my youth, but opening up more now as he ages) is a film grad and chewed my ear off about this film growing up. I did not know that about Bergman, interesting. Ironically, I resisted Christianity until 13 when I had a spiritual experience that literally made my knees quake! Once I reasoned that I was not actually insane, you could say I embarked on a journey to study as much of the Bible and accompanying archaeological/theological data as possible. It's true that I have a lens as you said -- as a Christian I believe that human beings are graceful creatures endowed with God's breath, made in His image and so we are possessed of great powers of intellect, charm, beauty, artistry and a moral compass. However, as illustrated in the eating of the forbidden fruit by Eve in the garden, such a creature through the power of its free will and those previously listed gifts can essentially create reality in its own image, and therefore come to a variety of conclusions to the same issues. I personally believe that many (not all) atheists and agnostics are actually wrestling with the breath of God in themselves, and as artists often do, portray that struggle on the canvas, or on screen here. It's a journey for some, such as C.S. Lewis. The Bible is filled with examples of such struggles, even amongst the so-called "devout", which is what I love about it compared to other books of religion around the world: its transparency. As for the film, yaaas! You're right, it is amazing, I'd love to revisit it actually now that im making videos again.
Thanks for responding to my comment... your thoughtful and well-conceived response made me think about so many ideas. I believe the hope for a better world rests in the hands of those, who despite elemental differences, find ways to exchange and accept. Two things... When I was. young, I did indeed wrestle with the breath of God... which permeated my familial ethos and extended community. I have come to believe now, looking back at 72... that was inevitable - not because there is a god, but because the omnipresent religious messaging flooded my subconscious expectations via every societal fountain... from Sunday school to movies to Christmas to every book, play, and mythological metaphor in Western art. I no longer wrestle with 'existence', but rather quest for 'experience'... And my searcing is not like the Knight's... who keeps looking through the same cupboard over and over only to find it seemingly bare, but rather, like Bergman, who explored hundreds of cupboards, gathering a bone here, a cake there, and a rare bowl of wild strawberries hidden in the recesses. The Bible, for moi, is one cupboard among countless stores of enlightement. Secondly, when you watch the film again (and it's worth a 2nd or 3rd viewing), take note of the Knight's 'quest'... which is to manifest one meaningful act before dying. In the last chess match, the Knight asks Death if anything escapes him. Death responds, "No one escapes me." The Knight then knocks the chess pieces over which distracts Death - allowing the family to escape... thus, the Knight, like Daniel Webster, 'cheats the devil'. This act is the most important moment in the movie. The Knight has 'saved' the family... his 'one meaningful act' is manifested... a 'sacrifice' analogous to a strategic chess move and Christ's sacrifice to save mankind. @@KensCinemaSofa
Hello there! It seems TH-cam has a limit to how many times they'll alert me to a new comment on a thread, sorry I never saw this or commented. I appreciate your analysis of religion and the film. I honestly had not made that connection between the knights action and that theme of sacrifice. I'm considering revisiting the film (partly because I now understand how to edit better so that it won't be partially blocked around the world), but also for better commentary.
As for Christ, well, for this missionary, there is a whole host of evidence: natural and supernatural -- that points to Christ in my experience in the last 15 years in ministry abroad. Still, the closest to my heart, and to millions of believers throughout history, those who have passed at old age or at the edge of a sword is this: His grave was empty, nor has any record of his body being laid out before the public to deter this "myth" of a resurrected God from spreading across the Roman empire, been written. His death by crucifixion IS, however, by the famous anti-Christian historian Publius Cornelius Tacitius in his book "The Annals", mere decades after the event. But no mention of the body itself. There is only One that has prophesied His own death and resurrection from the grave, with history, even an empire, failing to prove the latter false. The Lord -- victor over death: the enemy of mankind -- desires the clay He's deposited His sacred breath into, for His children, regardless of race, creed, nationality:
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spiritsa of God sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals,
because You were slain,
and by Your blood You purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom
and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign upon the earth. -Revelation 5:5-10
Thanks for your sharing
It's my pleasure Hang! This is a complex film, really enjoyed so many little nuggets. Stay tuned for more!
Keep it up bro!
Sure will and thanks my brotha!
Just one comment: it's improbable that the book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon. He lived in the 10th century BC, while the book is dated between the 6th and 3rd centuries, based on Persian words and some post-exilic grammatical features in the text.
Hey, thanks for stopping by! It's true that some books may be compiled in their final form in later centuries, but that doesn't mean that they don't use manuscripts from previous eras that were originally written by the original author. For example, Moses dies in the book of Deuteronomy, yet the narrative continues in that book. explaining about his burial in a secret place. How is that possible when Judaism teaches that Moses wrote the Torah? Well, it was an ancient tradition for disciples or followers to finish the writing using what they had from the original writer -- in this case it would have been Joshua son of Nun. He followed Moses up the mountain of Sinai, was very close, and his book, Judges, is next after Deuteronomy.
Same for letters in the new testament, it's actually stated that someone else took dictation for the Apostle Paul - Romans 16:22 - "I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord." This explains the changes in style in the bible, it was an ancient tradition for many cultures in the middle-east and Mesopotamia actually: the message is the same, but because it's written by a scribe, the scribe's style shines through. It's just that in the case of Ecclesiastes, its a longer period of time between dictator and writer. Yet, Israel had all of the writings and sayings of past kings and prophets, good example would be the ketef hinnom scrolls discovered in 1979. Those are from 600 B.C. and said to be one of the most significant discoveries ever made. Why? Because up until they were found, researchers said that the book of Numbers was written much later. But as I said, though they may be written and polished centuries later, doesn't mean that the original words weren't spoken, etched in stone, or kept by whatever means ages before.
The hinnom scrolls were writings etched on silver, so they survived many calamities throughout the millenia, but had to be scanned using computers to read them. They contain the Aaronic blessing as stated in Numbers, even written in Paleo-Hebrew, instead of Aramaic or Babylonian like later "official" versions, as Numbers as we know it wouldn't be "officially" written until much later of course. The book of Kings makes it clear that Israel had the raw data of the past written down in other forms before a "bible" as we know it came to be, as the hinnom scrolls proved.
They had these materials in excess until Nebuchadnezzar came and destroyed Jerusalem in 587 B.C., and they were exiled. Check out my books on these subjects on amazon.com, or my missions/exploration website www.frontiersnova.wordpress.com. Thanks for the comment!
o Let There Be Light: 50 tough bible questions- www.amazon.com/dp/B09QZYKCH3
o Sands of Time: Easy Guide to Bible archaeological Treasures
www.amazon.com/dp/B088ZQD263
@@KensCinemaSofa I didn't realize you thought Moses had written the Pentateuch. Just forget my previous comment.
@@lauterunvollkommenheit4344 No worries, bless you!
Not Cavaliers. The Knights of Templar. Cavaliers are Pirates.
hey thanks for the comment Mike! Actually, i meant Cavaliers, here's an entry from Merriam Webster's dictionary:
1 · a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship ; 2 · a mounted soldier : knight ; 3 · an adherent of Charles I of England
Im well aware of the knights Templar, and while they were much more well known for their spirituality, the Cavaliers i targeted because i am writing an adventure story and researched them. Thanks again!