The Virgin Spring (1960)

The Virgin Spring (1960)
(Jungfrukallan)

Swedish, B/W, English Subtitles

Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1960

Written for the screen by Swedish novelist Ulla Isaakson, who had previously worked with Bergman on Brink of Life (1958), The Virgin Spring stars the great Max Von Sydow as Herr Tore, a wealthy farmer in Medieval-era Sweden. Although both Tore and his wife, Mareta (Birgitta Valberg), adhere to a strict, ascetic form of Christianity, they indulge their only child, 15-year-old Karin (Birgitta Pettersson). Sweet but spoiled rotten, Karin coaxes her mother into letting her wear her best finery to deliver candles to the family's church, a day's ride on horseback. En route, she's raped and murdered by three herdsmen, who later seek shelter from the cold at Herr Tore's farm. Once he learns of Karin's death at the hands of the herdsmen, Tore exacts bloody revenge on his guests. Vengeance, however, brings no solace to the grieving father, whose faith in a just and loving God has been shaken, perhaps irrevocably, by Karin's brutal murder and his own actions—until he's witness to a miracle.

DIRECTOR: Ingmar Bergman
SCRIPT: Ulla Isaksson
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Sven Nykvist

CAST: Max von Sydow, Brigitta Valberg, Gunnell Lindblom, Brigitta Pettersson, Axel Duberg, Tor Isedal, Allan Edwall