Overview
A philosophical exploration of morality amidst the chaos of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- austere
- disturbing
- oppressive
- serious film discussion
- historical cinema viewing
What critics said
Critics regard the film as a powerful, unsettling, politically charged moral drama with a sharply confrontational European art-cinema sensibility.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The watchmaker’s hypothetical question becomes the central test of the bar patrons’ values and conduct.
The bar gathering functions as a sustained arena for argument, judgment, and psychological confrontation.
Budapest under fascist wartime pressure transforms an ordinary drinking gathering into a life-threatening ethical crisis.
The film’s central barroom encounter foregrounds performances, verbal exchanges, and the characters’ responses to cruelty.
Films like The Fifth Seal, and why
Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom
shared wartime moral extremity, political allegory, and confrontational European art-cinema tone
The Ascent
shared World War II setting, moral ambiguity, and psychologically oppressive historical drama
The Pawnbroker
shared wartime ethical dilemmas, ideological pressure, and grave ensemble drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Zoltán Fábri
- Release Date
- 1976-10-07
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 8.0 / 10 (107)
Cast
- Lajos Őze
- László Márkus
- Ferenc Bencze
- Sándor Horváth
- István Dégi
- Gábor Nagy
- György Bánffy
- Zoltán Latinovits
- József Vándor
- Noémi Apor
Common questions
- What is The Fifth Seal about?
- In wartime Budapest, an ordinary barroom gathering becomes a merciless test of conscience when a stranger poses a seemingly abstract moral question.
- What is The Fifth Seal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Fifth Seal as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Fifth Seal violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Fifth Seal as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Fifth Seal?
- Critics regard the film as a powerful, unsettling, politically charged moral drama with a sharply confrontational European art-cinema sensibility.
- Which films are like The Fifth Seal?
- Films with a similar feel include Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, The Ascent, and The Pawnbroker.
- How long is The Fifth Seal?
- The Fifth Seal runs 112 minutes.
