The Virgin Spring (1960)

An innocent yet pampered young virgin and her family's pregnant and jealous servant set out to deliver candles to church, but only one returns from events that transpire in the woods along the way.

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ulla Isaksson

Stars:

Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom

Won 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Max von Sydow	...	Töre
Birgitta Valberg	...	Märeta
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Ingeri
Birgitta Pettersson	...	Karin
Axel Düberg	...	Thin Herdsman
Tor Isedal	...	Mute Herdsman
Allan Edwall	...	Beggar
Ove Porath	...	Boy
Axel Slangus	...	Bridge Keeper
Gudrun Brost	...	Frida
Oscar Ljung	...	Simon
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tor Borong	...	Farm-hand
Leif Forstenberg	...	Farm-hand

Storyline

Set in beautiful 14th century Sweden, it is the sombre, powerful fable of wealthy land-owning parents whose daughter, a young virgin, is brutally raped and murdered by goat herders after her half sister has invoked a pagan curse. By a bizarre twist of fate, the murderers ask for food and shelter from the dead girl's parents, who, discovering the truth about their erstwhile lodgers, exact a chilling revenge.

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Plot Keywords:

virgin | rape | murder | revenge | pregnancy | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish German

Release Date:

14 November 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Virgin Spring

Filming Locations:

Dalarnas län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mentioned in the Van Halen song The Seventh Seal.

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Goofs

If you look closely when the boy is placing dirt on Karin's body, you can see her torso move as the actress breathes (even though she was supposed to be dead).

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Quotes

Töre: You are not alone, Mareta. And God alone bears our guilt.

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Connections

Referenced in The Last House on the Left (2009)

User Reviews

One of the most heartbreaking films I have ever seen

... and that's about all I can SAY about it. I saw this film four, maybe five years ago. And to this day, I feel a blow to my gut whenever I remember it. To this day, it haunts me - especially (and not surprisingly) the figure of the little boy.

This is a raw, uncompromising, unbiased parable on love and revenge; on humanity. It is set in 14th century Sweden - but its "message" is timeless: as timeless as love and vengefulness themselves. As timeless as humanity itself. Because the mores may change, but today, as 800 years ago, people are still helpless in their (perhaps inevitable) core existential ignorance, still subject to the immense pain of losing a loved one, of the inexplicable torments that often befall just and righteous, "good" people.

And that is what makes this a brutal, heartrending, unforgettable film.