When disillusioned Swedish knight Antonius Block returns home from the Crusades to find his country in the grips of the Black Death, he challenges Death to a chess match for his life. Tormented by the belief that God does not exist, Block sets off on a journey, meeting up with traveling players Jof and his wife, Mia, and becoming determined to evade Death long enough to commit one redemptive act while he still lives.
Elenco: Max von Sydow , Gunnar Björnstrand , Bengt Ekerot , Nils Poppe , Bibi Andersson , Inga Gill , Maud Hansson , Inga Landgré , Gunnel Lindblom , Bertil Anderberg , Anders Ek , Åke Fridell , Gunnar Olsson , Erik Strandmark , Sten Ardenstam , Gudrun Brost , Lars Lind , Benkt-Åke Benktsson , Tor Borong , Harry Asklund , Tommy Karlsson , Gösta Prüzelius , Tor Isedal , Mona Malm , Josef Norman , Fritjof Tall , Catherine Berg , Lena Bergman , Ulf Johanson , Gordon Löwenadler , Nils Whiten .