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When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
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Release date
16/02/1957
Votes
3,400
Popularity
8.1
Gunnar Björnstrand
Jöns
Bengt Ekerot
Death
Nils Poppe
Jof
Max von Sydow
Antonius Block
Bibi Andersson
Mia
Inga Gill
Lisa
Maud Hansson
Witch
Inga Landgré
Karin
Gunnel Lindblom
Mute Girl
Bertil Anderberg
Raval
Anders Ek
Monk
Åke Fridell
Plog
Gunnar Olsson
Albertus Pictor
Erik Strandmark
Jonas Skat
Lars Lind
Young Monk (uncredited)
Benkt-Åke Benktsson
Merchant at Inn (uncredited)
Tor Borong
Farmer at Inn (uncredited)
Gudrun Brost
Woman at Inn (uncredited)
Harry Asklund
Landlord (uncredited)
Ulf Johansson
Knight Commander (uncredited)
Sten Ardenstam
Knight (uncredited)
Gordon Löwenadler
Knight (uncredited)
Karl Widh
Man with Crutches (uncredited)
Tommy Karlsson
Mikael (uncredited)
Siv Aleros
Flagellant (uncredited)
Bengt Gillberg
Flagellant (uncredited)
Lars Granberg
Flagellant (uncredited)
Gunlög Hagberg
Flagellant (uncredited)
Gun Hammargren
Flagellant (uncredited)
Uno Larsson
Flagellant (uncredited)
Lennart Lilja
Flagellant (uncredited)
Monica Lindman
Flagellant (uncredited)
Helge Sjökvist
Flagellant (uncredited)
Georg Skarstedt
Flagellant (uncredited)
Ragnar Sörman
Flagellant (uncredited)
Lennart Tollén
Flagellant (uncredited)
Caya Wickström
Flagellant (uncredited)
Catherine Berg
Young Kneeling Woman (uncredited)
Mona Malm
Young Pregnant Woman (uncredited)
Tor Isedal
Man (uncredited)
Josef Norman
Old Man at Inn (uncredited)
Gösta Prüzelius
Man (uncredited)
Fritjof Tall
Man (uncredited)
Nils Whiten
Old Man Addressed by Monk (uncredited)
Lena Bergman
Young Kneeling Woman (uncredited)
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Interesting and iconic movie about faith and the meaning of life. A must seen.
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**The universality and invincibility of Death, the fear of dying, the importance of faith and its use by the Church in a timeless film, but not suitable for everyone.** The film, set in the late Middle Ages, begins with a knight returning to his homeland in Sweden after participating in the crusades. When he spots the figure of Death, who has come to get him, he decides to try to gain time by inviting her to play chess: if he wins the game, Death will not take him. What follows is a huge film essay around the themes of death, beliefs, faith, religion and the role of spirituality in human…
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Now of course everyone’s favourite Max von Sydow film is “Flash Gordon” (1980) but I reckon this performance for Ingmar Bergman might be almost as good! With the dreaded Black Death sweeping his homeland, “Block” (MvS) returns from the Crusades with his squire “Jöns” (Gunnar Björnstrand) only to find himself barely off the boat before he encounters the apparently quite reasonable grim reaper himself. “Block” invites him (Bengt Ekerot) to play a game of chess, on condition that he is left to live for the duration of the game and that if he wins, then he is to be allowed to go free. The game isn…
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