The Seventh Seal (1957)

I'm privileged to say death has not been prevalent in my life personally. I've experienced the passing of very few family and friends, none of which came unexpectedly. As a young man, I spend more time contemplating life and how to enjoy the time I'm given, rather than the inevitable end it will come to. Death however is a part of the human experience and great art has never been afraid to explore it. This film is ingrained in the idea of living in optimism in the face of death. There is a lot I did not understand that was being conveyed symbolically, as wells as a lot that could be gleaned from multiple viewings and in-depth examination. Everything I had heard about it made me believe The Seventh Seal would be a bleak film, but it's quite the contrary. There is a lot of fun to be had, but the stark reality of the times often contrasts it. I would recommend to anyone interested in seeing more classic international cinema.