Smultronstället (1957)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (written by)

Release Date:

22 June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

After living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Elderly | Aging | Disillusionment | Daughter In Law

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Victor Sjöström	...	Dr. Isak Borg
Bibi Andersson	...	Sara
Ingrid Thulin	...	Marianne Borg
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Dr. Evald Borg
Jullan Kindahl	...	Agda
Folke Sundquist	...	Anders
Björn Bjelfvenstam	...	Viktor
Naima Wifstrand	...	Mrs. Borg, Isak's Mother
Gunnel Broström	...	Mrs. Alman
Gertrud Fridh	...	Karin Borg, Isak's wife
Sif Ruud	...	Aunt Olga
Gunnar Sjöberg	...	Sten Alman / The Examiner
Max von Sydow	...	Henrik Åkerman
Åke Fridell	...	Karin's lover
Yngve Nordwall	...	Uncle Aron

Also Known As:

Wild Strawberries (UK) (USA)
Les fraises sauvages (Belgium: French title) (France) [fr]
Morangos Silvestres (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
A nap vége (Hungary) [hu]
Agries fraoules (Greece) [el]
Cuando huye el día (Argentina) [es]
Fresas salvajes (Spain) [es]
Il posto delle fragole (Italy) [it]
Lesní jahody (Czechoslovakia) [cs]
Mansikkapaikka (Finland) [fi]
Tam, gdzie rosna poziomki (Poland) [pl]
Ved vejs ende (Denmark) [da]
Wilde Erdbeeren (West Germany) [de]
Wilde aardbeien (Netherlands) [nl]
Wilde aardbeien (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]
Zemlyanichnaya polyana (Russia) [ru]

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish | Latin

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PA (Ontario) | South Korea:15 (2002) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 (video rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Argentina:16 | UK:A (original rating) | Iceland:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Dalarö, Stockholms län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Trivia:

Contrary to popular belief, Victor Sjöström was cast relatively late for the leading part, with Ingmar Bergman not having any particular person in mind while writing the screenplay.

Goofs:

Continuity: The front license plate on the VW disappears when untying the rope.

Quotes:

Sara: Good-bye, father Isak. Can't you see you're the one I love? Today, tomorrow and forever
Isak Borg: I'll keep that in mind

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Creeping Terror (#7.6)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

UNDER ROENN OCH SYREN / BLOMMANDE SKOENA DALAR

One of Bergman's greatest achievements

Wild Strawberries can be praised for so many reasons, but chief among them in my own mind is the way in which the film so perfectly conveys its themes of self-examination and the contemplation of one's own mortality (particularly through its stunning use of flashbacks). Bergman's autobiographical story also benefits from the brilliant casting of Swedish film legend Victor Sjostrom as Isak Borg, whose towering performance is essential to the success of Wild Strawberries. I read that Bergman based the coffin dream sequence on a frequent nightmare that he had -- and it never ceases to amaze me just how effective it remains even after all these years. Wild Strawberries seems like a quiet, thoughtful, introsepective movie -- and it is; it is also one of world cinema's most impressive motion pictures.