"The Seventh Seal" is arguably Bergman's best-known work. A medieval allegory of faith and doubt, this film contains the horrors of witch-burnings and plague, yet also features flashes of peace and joy. In this appreciation, Melvyn Bragg describes his first encounter with the film and recounts his later meeting with Bergman himself. This text is part of the "BFI Film Classics" series. Each volume in the series presents a personal commentary on the film, together with a brief production history and a detailed filmography, notes and bibliography.