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:

Cinematographer Gunnar Fischer says that several scenes had to be shot indoors due to Victor Sjöström's poor health. "We had to make some very bad back-projection in the car because we never knew if Victor would come back alive the next day." Nevertheless, as long as Victor was home by 5:15 P.M. each day, "and had his whiskey punctually, all went well."

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:

Referenced in Me Without You (2001)

Soundtrack:

UNDER ROENN OCH SYREN / BLOMMANDE SKOENA DALAR

The only reality

A gorgeous movie about memory and hope. A trip and a form of catharsis. It is not a story of an old man who discovers images of his past, about a marital crisis or some teenagers. It is not a confession. It is a mirror. The same crisis is the "gift" of everybody. The same silence, fear and desire are the refuge of a man, a woman, a n American or Irakian. At a moment, at a single moment, you discover your past like only reality. Like your real skin, your only voice, your essential eye. It is not strange. We are the fruits of some experiences. Some books, some people, a family, a child or a wife are the Ganymedes of our hours, our evolution, our death. Our freedom, our gestures, our smile are the trees of their presence. Isak Borg is the image of a age. Our age who grow-up in the noise of every day. The isolation is only way to be yourself. The way to Lund, the relation with Agda, the empty attitude, the projection in Evald, the words are the symbols of a clock who is seed of our conscience. Childhood is only reality of our life.