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
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)
Göran Lundquist	...	Benjamin Borg (uncredited)
Wulff Lund	...	(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:

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:

Professor Isak Borg: What is the punishment?
Sten Alman: The punishment? Well, I guess it'll be the usual.
Professor Isak Borg: The usual?
Sten Alman: Yes. The punishment is loneliness.
Professor Isak Borg: Is there no way out?
Sten Alman: Don't ask me. I don't know anything about these things.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Splendor (1989)

Soundtrack:

MARCIA CAROLUS REX

One of Master's Most Optimistic, Profound, And Warmest Films.

I first saw "Wild Strawberries" many years ago at one of the special screenings in the small theater in Moscow. It was the first Bergman's film I ever saw. This picture is amazing in its emotional impact and in my opinion is one of Bergman's most optimistic, profound, and warm films.

"Wild Strawberries" provides sincere, intelligent, and emotional contemplations of life's disappointment, regrets, and losses. The main character, seventy-eight-year-old Professor Isak Borg is forced to see his life in a true and painful light, but he also would learn that there is hope.

Sparkling cinematography by Gunnar Fisher and superb acting of Bergman's regulars – Ingrid Thulin, Bibi Anderson, Gunnar Bjornstrand, Max von Sydow and especially, the great silent film director, Victor Sjostrom as Professor Borg add to many delights of "Wild Strawberries" which also include Bergman's writing/directing with his famous mixing of conscious and unconscious, dreams and reality, the past and the present in the same scene.