The Virgin Spring (1960)

Birgitta Pettersson: Karin

Photos 

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Quotes 

• Karin : Make me worthy to receive the bread of Thy body and save my soul from a worldy death.

• Karin : [singing]  A little power is so painful, but it lets him scale the mountains.

• Märeta : You're behaving like a little child. If I'd used that tone of voice with my parents at your age, I'd have gotten a good thrashing and nothing to eat.

  Karin : [smiles]  Then give me a thrashing and nothing to eat.

• Karin : What is it, Ingeri?

  Ingeri : I was in the barn last night. I saw you two.

  Karin : I wanted to speak to him about you, to see if there might be help for you and the child.

  Ingeri : He probably said if you offered him your mouth, there'd be help, and if you rolled with him in hay, there'd be even more!

  [Karin slaps Ingeri] 

• Märeta : If you always get your way, you'll give the devil such joy that the saints will punish you with boils and toothaches.

  Karin : Why are you always talking about the devil? Father never does.

  Märeta : Because the devil seduces the innocent and seeks to destroy goodness before it can blossom.

  Karin : I always say my prayers, Mother.

• Karin : Get out my yellow silk shift, and my Sunday skirt and blue cape. Then I'll be happy, and you'll be happy, and Father as well. Mother, I'll ride to church with such dignity, and Blackie will raise his hooves gently, like in a pilgrim's procession. I'll look neither right nor left but straight ahead, thinking of the candles and of God's holy mother. The white stockings too, and the blue shoes with pearls.

• Karin : I wish I had dreams too. Big, wonderful dreams. But I never do.

• Karin : [singing]  The little bird, he soars so high, And rides the wind on his wing, It is such work, such work to fly, And over high mountains to spring, The streams flow so merrily, And under the verdant trees, In Springtime's breeze...

• Karin : Forgive me for slapping you.

  Ingeri : Don't ask *me* for forgiveness!

• Karin : Does the baby hurt you, Ingeri? What's the matter?

  Ingeri : You'll learn for yourself one day.

  Karin : Then I'll be married, and mistress of my house with honor.

  Ingeri : We'll see about your honor when a man takes your waist or strokes your neck.

  Karin : No man will get me to bed without marriage.

  Ingeri : And if he meets you in the nature and pulls you down behind a bush?

  Karin : I'll fight my way free.

  Ingeri : But he's stronger than you.

• Thin Herdsman : My brother says the proud maiden has such white hands.

  Karin : [smiles]  Because princesses needn't do the washing or make fires.

  Thin Herdsman : My brother says the proud maiden has such a pretty neck.

  Karin : [smiles]  To make a princess's gold necklace shine all the brighter.

  Thin Herdsman : My brother says the proud maiden has such a narrow waist.

• Simon : If you're on your way to matins, you're too late. But better to bloom on the road than wither in church.

  Karin : I'm taking candles to church.

  Simon : I see. In the Holy Virgin's honor, you've bedecked and bejeweled yourself like a bride for her groom.

  Karin : No, because it's such nice weather, and because mother was against it.