@felixxx999 said:

@rooprect said:

That scene really stuck in my throat also. Not only was it disturbing on a physical level, seeing a woman get burned to death, but it was a real gut punch on a level of faith.

Worth noting: On the commentary for a different 50s film (Wages of Fear) they talk about a similar scene where a dying man reveals he sees nothing. Apparently film censors around the world wouldn’t let that fly, so it was cut or redubbed in various releases until it was finally restored a few years ago. Bergman probably skirted the censor issue by making his scene harder to read, but it’s pretty clear and upsetting to anyone who’s paying close attention.

On the subject of what comes after death, I thought Seventh Seal wove some great thoughts. At one point the knight directly asks Death about God & any afterlife, and Death himself responds that he doesn’t know. And if you look closely, there’s a look of frustration or possibly anger that crosses Death’s face for just an instant. It’s a pretty powerful statement that maybe the gods themselves don’t know—or maybe there is truly nothing, but they can’t admit it because they themselves hate to think it’s all for nothing.

Yeah. And the ending. He does a good deed but then breaks down because it really doesn't matter? I also like the young couple -- comic relief. It's funny to me how funny and kind of sexy these films are on the fringes.

Edit: Totally don't remember that in Wages of Fear. Kind of gives the film a deeper meaning now...

Even in Wages of Fear it’s pretty subtle which makes me think the censors were really touchy back then. It’s the scene near the end where the man is dying and seemingly babbling about a childhood memory. He’s talking about a field where there’s a fence that nobody ever crossed, but he’s remembering that one day he did cross it. As he keeps talking, the memory comes back and he reveals what he saw on the other side: nothing. Then dies. Same gut punch we get here in the witch scene.

Good point that the knight’s act of goodness & restoration of faith still wasn’t enough for him to face death at the end. As I recall, all of them were pretty terrified, believers & non-believers alike. Except one... How did you interpret the girl’s smile at the end? Funny how she never spoke through the whole story so we never know what she believed, and she was the only character who seemed at peace.

I think that was the message. Not exactly "Ignorance is bliss", but "Live your beautiful life. This is the time, don't work like a dog for a gift that may not come." Of course Bergman spent his whole artistic career grappling with faith so he didn't follow that message.

@felixxx999 said:

I think that was the message. Not exactly "Ignorance is bliss", but "Live your beautiful life. This is the time, don't work like a dog for a gift that may not come."

I can go with that. The movie would’ve been pretty bleak if not for her smile at the end which Bergman shot beautifully so it must’ve had deep significance to him. But you’re right, he didn’t seem to follow that philosophy in life. I guess like with many Bergman films that have an optimistic twist, he was creating art that showed what he wanted to believe.

There’s a speech near the beginning of Fanny & Alexander (coming soon on your journey?) where the theater director talks about the stage being a tiny safe world through which we view the bigger horrible world outside, and maybe it helps us feel better. Pretty sure that character is Bergman talking directly to us.

My picks are not going in any logical order. Thank God for Criterion Channel that has most if not all his films. I also want to check out his 40s stuff.

@felixxx999 said:

My picks are not going in any logical order. Thank God for Criterion Channel that has most if not all his films. I also want to check out his 40s stuff.

Yes! The Criterion collection is a godsend. They own the rights to so many good old films.