Smultronstället (1957)

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)

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: In the dream sequence, early in the movie, when Dr. Borg leans against the wall (next a window), a large and dense shadow (the clock shadow) can be seen on the wall. Soon after, in a farther angle, the shadow disappeared.

Quotes:

Sten Alman: Me and my wife are dependent on each other. It is out of selfish reasons we haven't beaten each other to death a long time ago.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Muppets Go to the Movies (1981) (TV)

Soundtrack:

JA; MAA HAN LEVA!

exceptionally well made

Although I'm not the biggest Ingmar Bergman fan, I have really enjoyed some of his movies--especially the one that are not so pessimistic. Although the underlying theme of this movie is aging and impending death, the movie is NOT all pessimism. If it had been, it would have lost my interest early on. Instead, I really enjoyed the film--particularly the fine acting by Victor Sjöström as Professor Borg.

The professor is well-respected for his work as a doctor. However, despite his success in his career, he is a failure in his personal relationships. His emotional baggage over the years has prevented him from allowing himself to be close to those he truly loves. This theme mirrors one of the subplots of Through a Glass Darkly, where a father is being destroyed inside by his daughter's mental illness but he CANNOT allow himself to show his anguish--choosing instead to hide in his room with his tears. It is interesting that the same man playing Borg's son (Gunnar Björnstrand) plays the father only a few years later in Through a Glass Darkly.

Fortunately, unlike Through a Glass Darkly, there IS evidence that the professor is willing to change his persona, as he begins to open up more through the course of the movie. This appears to be assisted through extensive soul searching and dreams the professor has concerning his past and his own mortality--along with experiences he has during a long drive down the coast of Sweden. Because of this, even his extremely strained relationship with his son appears to hold some hope of improvement by the film's end. This hope for change lifts this movie above some Bergman films that only wallow in hopelessness.

FYI--The Criterion version of this DVD is nice due to its running commentary as well as the accompanying documentary. Get this version if you have the chance.

Also FYI--After watching many Bergman films and reading about his life, I detect quite a bit of autobiography in this film and his own stuggles with intimacy.