The Seventh Seal (1957)

 What surprised me most about this movie was how much life seeped from its existential seams. I expected a dark film about life and death in a terrible time, but what I experienced was something every person ever can relate to. While it's imagery may have aged, our knight Antonius' dread of death and search for God will always be benchmarked into our brains. I know I'll never forget it. In fact I want to watch it again already. Antonius challenges death to a game of chess after returning home from the crusades. His general indifference towards his fellow man has sparked in him an existential crisis and he's desperately searching for the existence of God, while playing this game with death. This is a bravely spiritual film even if it may conclude with there being no God, which really depends on your perspective. It's spirituality shines mostly through it's sense of joy and love. Finding comfort in the presence of love or being in love during such a dark time. The many characters that accompany Antonius on his journey home all represent the different perspectives on living life and so I believe the people are key to answering his questions, which he realizes at least some before the game is over.

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