THE FILE EXPERIENCE: AN INTRODUCTION (SECOND EDITION)
Chapter 5: Relating Images: Editing (pgs. 134 - 183)
"Sequences of shots or scenes may describe the linear movement of time forward as one event follows another in temporal order. Often human activity directs the selection and ordering of events in this way (pg. 155)."
In The Seventh Seal (1957), from the beginning of the movie the main character, played by Max von Sydow, a Crusader who is on a quest to find the truth, wants to know if there really is a GOD. The sequence of events follow this character on his journey to discover the truth. After meeting Death, played by Bengt Ekerot, playing a game of chess, and ultimately winning that game, he bargains with Death not to take him yet, he wants more time to find the answers he has been seeking. Death agrees. The Crusader and the squire, played by, Björnstrand Jöns, after being on a ten-year quest and finding no answers, go out to live amongst the poor in a near-by village.
Each event they encounter serves to help the story progress along the storyline. Because of the order in which the scenes are placed, the viewer can follow the story and begin to discern what might happen next based on information provided in the previous scenes. For example, when one of the jugglers slips off with one of the villager's wives, you, as the viewer, know that, at some point, the juggler is going to get caught. These sequence of events and the subsequent scenes that follow, carry the story and characters along in a logical order as the story progresses.
The editing techniques employed in The Seven Seals (1957), were much fewer in numbers than the editing techniques used in today's films. Considering that it was made in 1957, and the lack of complex editing techniques at that time, this film does a fine job of setting the mood, creating drama, and conveying emotion. Also, because the film was shot in black and white, the limited editing that was used for that time really helped to make the scenes more powerful. The use of fade-in and fade-out shots were used quite a bit in this film. This helped the viewer transition from the present to the past and back again.
This film can be divided into segments. The crusader and the squire seeking religious truth __ the juggling troupe wandering the countryside trying to eek out a meager living __ the villagers struggling with good and evil along with sexual temptations __ and the priests with the female prisoner that they accused of being possessed by the Devil __ and Death himself. Each segment plays its individual role in the film, but when put together to tell the whole story, they give the story much more depth and contrast. Each needs the other to help tell the story in its entirety.
"Editing leads viewers to experience images through particular emotions and ideas and it remains one of the most effective ways to create meanings from shots (pg. 182)."
In the film The Seven Seals (1957), some of the emotions that are evoked are fear of the unknown. No knowing if there really is a GOD. Not knowing if what we do here on earth really matters. Not knowing if when we die we will have to atone for our sins. The other emotions evoked in this film are the simple joy of being alive. Just being able to wake up and see the sun shine can bring such joy to those that can appreciate the simple things in life. The contrast between the juggler named Jof, played by Nils Poppe, who only sees the brighter side of life and the Crusader, played by Max von Sydow, who has tunnel vision and cannot live in the moment. He can only think about his quest. There is one point in the movie where he stops to think about that moment in time when he is having a pleasant meal with the juggler and his family. It makes him think about the life he had before. A life where he was happy and he was in love with his wife. Unfortunately, there are so many people who live this way. They only think about the future or they dwell regrettably in the past. They are not able to live in the moment and appreciate what they have while they have it.
Chapter 5: Relating Images: Editing (pgs. 134 - 183)
"Sequences of shots or scenes may describe the linear movement of time forward as one event follows another in temporal order. Often human activity directs the selection and ordering of events in this way (pg. 155)."
In The Seventh Seal (1957), from the beginning of the movie the main character, played by Max von Sydow, a Crusader who is on a quest to find the truth, wants to know if there really is a GOD. The sequence of events follow this character on his journey to discover the truth. After meeting Death, played by Bengt Ekerot, playing a game of chess, and ultimately winning that game, he bargains with Death not to take him yet, he wants more time to find the answers he has been seeking. Death agrees. The Crusader and the squire, played by, Björnstrand Jöns, after being on a ten-year quest and finding no answers, go out to live amongst the poor in a near-by village.
Each event they encounter serves to help the story progress along the storyline. Because of the order in which the scenes are placed, the viewer can follow the story and begin to discern what might happen next based on information provided in the previous scenes. For example, when one of the jugglers slips off with one of the villager's wives, you, as the viewer, know that, at some point, the juggler is going to get caught. These sequence of events and the subsequent scenes that follow, carry the story and characters along in a logical order as the story progresses.
"The editing styles we have discussed so far are not simply neutral ways of telling stories or conveying information; applied in different context __ Hollywood or the avant-garde each style conveys different perspective on art and realism (pg. 166)."
This film can be divided into segments. The crusader and the squire seeking religious truth __ the juggling troupe wandering the countryside trying to eek out a meager living __ the villagers struggling with good and evil along with sexual temptations __ and the priests with the female prisoner that they accused of being possessed by the Devil __ and Death himself. Each segment plays its individual role in the film, but when put together to tell the whole story, they give the story much more depth and contrast. Each needs the other to help tell the story in its entirety.
"Editing leads viewers to experience images through particular emotions and ideas and it remains one of the most effective ways to create meanings from shots (pg. 182)."
In the film The Seven Seals (1957), some of the emotions that are evoked are fear of the unknown. No knowing if there really is a GOD. Not knowing if what we do here on earth really matters. Not knowing if when we die we will have to atone for our sins. The other emotions evoked in this film are the simple joy of being alive. Just being able to wake up and see the sun shine can bring such joy to those that can appreciate the simple things in life. The contrast between the juggler named Jof, played by Nils Poppe, who only sees the brighter side of life and the Crusader, played by Max von Sydow, who has tunnel vision and cannot live in the moment. He can only think about his quest. There is one point in the movie where he stops to think about that moment in time when he is having a pleasant meal with the juggler and his family. It makes him think about the life he had before. A life where he was happy and he was in love with his wife. Unfortunately, there are so many people who live this way. They only think about the future or they dwell regrettably in the past. They are not able to live in the moment and appreciate what they have while they have it.
Works Cited
"The Seventh Seal (1957) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 18 Apr. 2011.
"Google Images." Google. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.google.com/imgres?
"Google Images." Google. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. <http://www.google.com/imgres?
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