Wild Strawberries (1957) Smultronstället (original title)

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 | Aging | Disillusionment | Elderly | Surrealism

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 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
Per Sjöstrand	...	Sigfrid Borg
Gio Petré	...	Sigbritt Borg
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Charlotta Borg
Maud Hansson	...	Angelica Borg
Ann-Marie Wiman	...	Eva Åkerman
Eva Norée	...	Anna Borg
Lena Bergman	...	Kristina Borg, twin
Monica Ehrling	...	Birgitta Borg, twin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peder Hellman	...	Sigbritt's Baby (uncredited)
Ulf Johansson	...	Mr. Borg - Isak's Father (uncredited)
Wulff Lund	...	(uncredited)
Göran Lundquist	...	Benjamin Borg (uncredited)
Gunnar Olsson	...	(uncredited)
Vendela Rudbäck	...	Elisabeth - Mrs. Borg's Housemaid (uncredited)
Per Skogsberg	...	Hagbart Borg (uncredited)
Helge Wulff	...	The Manager (uncredited)

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman		written by

Produced by
Allan Ekelund	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Erik Nordgren
Göte Lovén		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Gunnar Fischer

Film Editing by
Oscar Rosander

Production Design by
Gittan Gustafsson

Costume Design by
Millie Ström

Makeup Department
Nils Nittel	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gösta Ekman	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman	....	property master

Sound Department
Aaby Wedin	....	sound
Sven Rudestedt	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Lennart Wallin	....	sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Louis Huch	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Björn Thermænius	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Other crew
Katinka Faragó	....	script girl (as Katherina Faragó)
Sven Sjönell	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• Janus Films (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Constantin Film (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1978) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Whirlwind Media (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2000) (USA) (video)
• Gutek Film (2006) (Poland) (all media)
• Image Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Süddeutsche Zeitung (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Arthaus Filmverleih
• Cult Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Odeon (Hungary)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Tartan Video
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Video Yesteryear

Also Known As:

"Smultronstället" - Sweden (original title)

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) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:PG | 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:

Cinematographer Gunnar Fischer says that several scenes had to be shot indoors due to Victor Sjöström's poor health. "We had to make some very bad back-projection in the car because we never knew if Victor would come back alive the next day." Nevertheless, as long as Victor was home by 5:15 P.M. each day, "and had his whiskey punctually, all went well."

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 "The Nostalgia Critic: The Cell (#4.50)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

JA; MAA HAN LEVA!

Film as an art form

We trace the journey of an elderly professor who is traveling to receive an honor for a life of accomplishment and service. Along the way he confronts the lack of success in his human relationships as opposed to the success he has enjoyed professionally. A string of encounters with the past and with iconic people he meets gradually bring the contrast into focus for the viewer.

I particularly liked the subtle and intelligent storytelling in this film. He tells us before the credits that he is just a boring pedant. We realize as he comes to realize what this has really meant to him. We slowly receive hints of the emotional truths that frame the man's life. He is confronted by traces of how things could have been different.

Important points are hinted at without being said--the viewer is left to sort them out. For example, the couple at the gas station convince us in a short and seemingly banal exchange that the Professor was a great healer whose service to those outside his family was anything but sterile. Yet speaking to his daughter-in-law, his smug insistence that a debt must be paid gives us a glimpse at what it must have been like for his son to have been held at emotional bay by bloodless, cold rationalism.

This film deserves NOT to be remade, in order to preserve its artistic integrity. It affirms that film can be an art form that touches the soul as opposed to merely a product to be sold.