With its bi-monthly members-only Arthouse Film Night Series, the Bosque Film Society presents Ingmar Bergman’s historical fantasy THE SEVENTH SEAL July 12 at The Cliftex in Clifton

By BRETT VOSS

Bosque Film Society Founding Board President

For its sixth 2022 film series presentation, the Bosque Film Society cordially invites all members to attend its members-only ARTHOUSE FILM NIGHT featuring Ingmar Bergman’ 1957 historical fantasy THE SEVENTH SEAL at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 12 at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton with an introductory presentation by Bosque Film Society founding secretary Nathan Diebenow.

Considered a classic of world cinema, as well as one of the greatest movies of all time, THE SEVENTH SEAL Swedish: Det sjunde inseglet) was written and directed by Bergman, establishing the Swedish filmmaker as a world-renowned director. Set in Sweden during the Black Death and containing scenes which have become iconic through homages, critical analysis, and parodies, THE SEVENTH SEAL tells of the journey of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) and a game of chess he plays with the personification of Death (Bengt Ekerot), who has come to take his life.

Bergman developed the film from his own play Wood Painting, referring to a passage from the Book of Revelation. Used both at the very start of the film and again towards the end, Revelations 8:1 states “And when the Lamb had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” Here, the motif of silence refers to the “silence of God,” which is a major theme of the film.

The ARTHOUSE FILM NIGHT SERIES represents one of the two film series the Bosque Film Society offers its members every month, presenting free classic movies.

Upcoming FILM APPRECIATION NIGHT presentations will include:

Aug. 9 — All That Jazz (1979)

Oct. 11 — Out of Africa (1985)

Dec. 13 — Christmas Party: White Christmas (1954)

Upcoming ARTHOUSE FILM NIGHT presentations will include:

Sept. 13 — Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Nov. 8 – Day for Night (1973)

Since this will be a private showing, BYOB will be allowed, and the theatre concession stand will be open for purchases. Although the event will be closed to the public, those wishing to become Bosque Film Society members Tuesday night will be admitted.

For more information about joining the Bosque Film Society’s non-profit efforts to support The Cliftex Theatre, the longest continuously-operating movie house in Texas, showing films since 1916, visit our website at: www.bosquefilm.com.