[6] Film scholar Marc Gervais elaborated that Töre's revenge is "ritualized pagan vengeance", adding "Töre is torn between two ritualized imperatives: pagan vengeance, Christian repentance and forgiveness". [20] The film was also screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1960. She is the pride and joy of her family. [4] Ingeri uses it to wash her head, which she used to plan the spell, and her eyes, which she used to watch the rape, and drinks the water, symbolizing absolution. Ingmar Bergman scholar Peter Cowie explores how the great actor’s authoritative screen presence allowed him to embody the director’s fears and ideals. [13] For adaptation, Bergman chose "Töres döttrar i Wänge" as among the simplest of the ballads about Töre. [32] Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, also reports 94% approval among 16 surveyed critics, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The story was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson from a 13th-century Swedish ballad, "Töres döttrar i Wänge" ("Töre's daughters in Vänge"). 'The Virgin Spring', based on a 13th century Swedish ballad, is no exception. (1960). Karin is accompanied by her pregnant servant Ingeri, who secretly worships the Norse deity Odin. [30] Leonard Maltin, giving The Virgin Spring three stars in his 2013 Movie Guide and calling it "Fascinating, beautifully made," felt it was more proper to say The Last House on the Left "ripped off" Bergman's film than remade it. 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. Karin is accompanied by her pregnant foster sister, Ingeri (Gunnel Lindblom), who secretly worships the Norse deity Odin. Starring Max von Sydow and photographed by the brilliant Sven Nykvist, the film is both beautiful and cruel in its depiction of a world teetering between paganism and Christianity. Then he stumbled upon the mysterious Rachel by the virgin spring, half drowned, half dressed and unable to recall her own name. [3] In a possible interpretation, Odin in this film becomes synonymous with the Devil. On their travels, the three brothers decide to take refuge at a farm, Töre and Märeta's farm, the couple who welcome the three into their manor house out of Christian charity. Ingeri encounters a one-eyed man at the stream-side mill. Taglines As IMDb celebrates its 30th birthday, we have six shows to get you ready for those pivotal years of your life ... your 30s. [3] In the film, paganism is associated with magic spells, envy and revenge. Isaksson and Bergman explored a number of themes in The Virgin Spring, questioning morals, vengeance, and religious beliefs. Set in medieval Sweden, it is a tale about a father's merciless response to the rape and murder of his young daughter. The director of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream may not often be spoken of in the same breath as the classic auteurs of Europ…, New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray, Audio commentary from 2005 by Ingmar Bergman scholar Birgitta Steene, Interviews from 2005 with actors Gunnel Lindblom and Birgitta Pettersson, Introduction by filmmaker Ang Lee from 2005, Audio recording of a 1975 American Film Institute seminar by Bergman, PLUS: A booklet featuring essays by film scholar Peter Cowie and screenwriter Ulla Isaksson and the medieval ballad on which the film is based. 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. And to secure his position, he must wed a Davidson woman, quickly. Contact me | Privacy policy | Join the mailing list | Links. In Sweden, in the Fourteenth Century, Karin is the favorite and virgin daughter of the religious Töre and Märeta. Spring represents the beginning where everything is clean. [13] In writing the screenplay, Isaksson was most interested in exploring conflicts between Christianity and paganism, while Bergman wanted to dissect guilt. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. The Virgin Spring tells the story, set in medieval Sweden, of a prosperous Christian whose daughter, Karin (Birgitta Pettersson) is appointed to take candles to the church. A very well played spellbinding film. A variety of themes explored in the film include Christianity, Paganism, Norse mythology, feelings of guilt, vengeance, the questioning of religious faith and sexual innocence. Set in medieval Sweden, it is a tale about a father's merciless response to the rape and murder of his young daughter. Ingeri proceeds to wash herself with the water while Karin's mother cleans the dirt from her daughter's face. [31], The aggregation site They Shoot Pictures, Don't They has found it to be the 639th most acclaimed film ever made. The Virgin Spring is bigger than that, and especially in its deeply uncomfortable rape scene, I think it goes too far into pure misery for misery's sake, and only the way that it's being channeled through Ingeri's POV helps to make it at least somewhat productive for the character drama. The Virgin Spring (Jungfrukällan) (1960 Sweden 88 mins) Source: ACMI Collections Prod Co: Svensk Filmindustri Prod: Ingmar Bergman, Allan Ekelund (Uncredited) Dir: Ingmar Bergman Screenplay: Ulla Isaksson, based on a medieval legend Phot: Sven Nykvist Ed: Oscar Rosander Prod Des: P. A. Lundgren Mus: Erik Nordgren Cast: Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom, Birgitta […] [13] In writing the screenplay, Isaksson was most interested in exploring conflicts between Christianity and paganism, while Bergman wanted to dissect guilt. [4] As with The Seventh Seal, Bergman relies on the emotions and inner conflicts of his characters to represent spiritual crisis. When the man makes sexual advances towards her and promises her power, Ingeri flees in terror. Yet his incredible run of successes in that era—including The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, and The Virgin Spring, haunting black-and-white elegies on the nature of God and death—merely paved the way for a long and continuously dazzling career that would take him from the daring “Silence of God” trilogy (Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, The Silence) to the existential terrors of Cries and Whispers to the family epic Fanny and Alexander, with which he “retired” from the cinema. Winner of the Academy Award for best foreign-language film, Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring is a harrowing tale of faith, revenge, and savagery in medieval Sweden. Max von Sydow plays Birgitta Pettersson's father in this film. | Bergman researched the legend of Per Töre with an eye to an adaptation, considering an opera before deciding on a film version. He later referred to The Virgin Spring as "a wretched imitation of Kurosawa". After they fall asleep, the mother locks the trio in the dining chamber and reveals her suspicions to Töre. Along their way through the forest on horseback, the two part, and Karin sets out on her own. [27] In contrast, the Stockholms-Tidningen wrote Isaksson was better suited for print than film, where she was weak. The questions become whether either side will discover their connection, and what Ingeri will do based on her prayers and what she witnessed. Then, they rape and kill her, under the eyes of her hidden stepsister. The comedy became The Devil's Eye. He even tries to bury the body by sprinkling dirt but stops midway, and runs along with the older men. During the night, one of the goat herders offers to sell Karin's clothes to her mother, and she suspects the worst. | The film is set in medieval Sweden, and it opens with Ingeri (Gunnel Lindblom, “The Seventh Seal”), a pregnant servant girl living on a farm. Given criticism of the historical accuracy of his 1957 film The Seventh Seal, he also invited Isaksson to write the screenplay. The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory - Spring 1559, pages 112 - 181 summary and analysis. Isaksson and Bergman explored a number of themes in The Virgin Spring, questioning morals, vengeance, and religious beliefs. He later referred to The Virgin Spring as "a wretched imitation of Kurosawa". Was this review helpful to you? [16], SF Studios required Bergman to make a comedy before agreeing to produce The Virgin Spring. She breaks down in front of Töre and tells him about the rape and murder. [2], Much of the religious themes centre on conflict between paganism and Christianity, recalling the misery Sweden experienced as the two religions struggled for predominance.