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.
Stars: Max von Sydow, Bengt Ekerot, Gunnar Björnstrand, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Landgré
Crew: Erik Nordgren (Original Music Composer), Allan Ekelund (Producer), Ingmar Bergman (Screenplay), Ingmar Bergman (Director), Gunnar Fischer (Director of Photography), Lennart Wallén (Editor)
Country: Sweden
Language: svenska
Studio: SF Studios
Runtime: 96 minutes
Quality: HD
Released: Feb 16, 1957
IMDb: 2.8
Keywords:witch, dying and death, blacksmith, chess, countryside, allegory, crusade, artist, juggler, witch burning, last judgment, symbolism, sense of life, matter of life and death, grim reaper, black and white, demon, belief in god, middle ages (476-1453), meaning of life, virgin mary, black death, playing chess, death personified, death incarnate, life teacher, metaphysical, 14th century, seeking a god, relaxed, metaphysical drama, metaphysics, mysticism, kabbalah, spiritism, the virgin mary
