A world weary knight (Max von Sydow) making his way home from the Crusades happens upon Death and challenges him to a chess game with the hopes of preempting and preventing the inevitable. During the course of their game, the knight ruminates on the existence of God, his impending death, and the meaning of life. Ingmar Bergman's quintessential arthouse masterpiece is a brilliant and emotionally draining discourse on human nature, pristinely shot, and replete with stunning sequence after stunning sequence including a mercy killing preceding a burning at the stake, Death slowly creeping into the frame, a troubadour's fake demise followed by his actual one, and, of course, the haunting dance of death.
**** out of *****
**** out of *****
