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The Seventh Seal

Intro by Suranjan Ganguly, Cinema Studies

The Seventh Seal

Beset by doubts as to the meaning of life and religion, a knight and his squire return from a 14th century Crusade and find all of Sweden in the death throes of the Black Plague. When suddenly confronted by Death, the knight begs for a respite and proposes a game of chess. Death agrees and as the game progresses the knight and his squire are permitted to go forth into the land. After witnessing the evil and corruption of people living in the fear of Death, they happen upon a little family of strolling players who have somehow retained their joy of living.

An uncommon and fascinating film… This initially mystifying drama… turns out to be a piercing and powerful contemplation of the passage of man upon this earth. Essentially intellectual, yet emotionally stimulating, too, it is as tough- and rewarding- a screen challenge as the moviegoer has had to face this year… Provocative picture, filled with intimations… For instance, it could be that Mr. Bergman means the plague to represent all mortal fears of threats beyond likely containment that hang over modern man. Certainly, there can be little question what he means when he shows the piteous herds of anguished and self-tormenting people driven by soldiers and priests. But the profundities of the ideas are lightened and made flexible by flowing pictorial presentation of action that is interesting and strong. Mr. Bergman uses his camera and actors for sharp, realistic effects… And his actors are excellent.

— Bosley Crowther, NYT

The Seventh Seal

Tue December 4, 2018, 7:30 PM, Muenzinger Auditorium

Sweden, 1957, in Swedish, Black and White, 96 min, 1.37 : 1

Director: Ingmar Bergman, Screenplay: Ingmar Bergman, Cast: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson

recommend

Tickets

10 films for $60 with punch card
$9 general admission. $7 w/UCB student ID, $7 for senior citizens
$1 discount to anyone with a bike helmet
Free on your birthday! CU Cinema Studies students get in free.

Parking

Pay lot 360 (now only $1/hour!), across from the buffalo statue and next to the Duane Physics tower, is closest to Muenzinger. Free parking can be found after 5pm at the meters along Colorado Ave east of Folsom stadium and along University Ave west of Macky.

RTD Bus

Park elsewhere and catch the HOP to campus

International Film Series

(Originally called The University Film Commission)
Established 1941 by James Sandoe.

First Person Cinema

(Originally called The Experimental Cinema Group)
Established 1955 by Carla Selby, Gladney Oakley, Bruce Conner and Stan Brakhage.

C.U. Film Program

(AKA The Rocky Mountain Film Center)
First offered degrees in filmmaking and critical studies in 1989 under the guidance of Virgil Grillo.

Celebrating Stan

Created by Suranjan Ganguly in 2003.

C.U. Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

Established 2017 by Chair Ernesto Acevedo-Muñoz.

Thank you, sponsors!
Boulder International Film Festival
Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts

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