As I walked into work on Monday, I was stopped by my former cube-mate, Stanislav. "Ken! Did you hear the news?" he asked, sounding a bit more frantic than usual. I was baffled. I had not heard this news of which he spoke. "Ingmar Bergman died today." he told me. I was numb.

For those who may not know, Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish filmmaker and truly one of the greatest film artists of all time. His career spanned nearly 60 years and produced over 50 films. The spanse of his work not only depicted the melancholy beauty of Sweden, but also addressed some of the most challenging and profound questions known to man.

I have only had the pleasure of seeing a handful of his films, but his brilliance is evident in all of them. His mastery of light and camerawork are astounding. The depth of his characters and the irreplicable way in which he explores the soul of man leaves us with a yearning to search our own hearts. What Bergman gives us is an undefiled, naked honesty - a reflection on the struggles and questions of his own heart. Whether we share his perspective is irrelevant; we are challenged and edified nonetheless.

The first film I saw of Bergman's was The Seventh Seal. It tells the story of a knight and his squire, who return from the Crusades to find their homeland ravaged by the plague. It is rich with symbolism and profoundly thought-provoking. It is by far one of the best films I have ever seen.

For a list of Bergman's films, try Bergman on IMDB.