Directed by: Ingmar Bergman
Premise: Set in 14th Century Sweden, a peasant girl is raped and murdered by
group of bandits. By chance, the bandits unknowingly take shelter with the
victim’s family. When the parents discover what has happened, they take
revenge.
What Works: The Virgin
Spring is a beautiful film about sin and redemption. The film sets up
conflicts between what is considered respectable and civilized behavior and the
carnal or primitive urges of human nature. By setting the story in the 14th
Century, the film is able to amplify this theme by using the conflict between
the emerging Christian culture and the traditional pagan beliefs and use the
symbolism of each in understanding and complicating the motives of the
characters. The family’s high regard for Karin (Birgitta Pettersson), their naïve,
virginal daughter, in part leads to her undoing as her insulated upbringing
leads her blindly into the bandit’s trap. By contrast, the family’s disdain
for Ingeri (Gunnel Lindblom) the older daughter, who has become the black sheep
of the family by getting pregnant outside of marriage, is reversed as the family
comes together in mourning. At the same time, the killers are portrayed
sympathetically in their demise, especially the young boy (Ove Porat) who never
touches the girl and yet becomes a victim of the family’s revenge. The finale
of The Virgin Spring elevates it above an ordinary revenge narrative and
into a meditation on the problem of evil as the father (Max von Sydow) comes to
terms with what he has done. Despite the darkness of the film’s storyline, the
conclusion allows the possibility of hope.
What Doesn’t: Like most
of Bergman’s films, this is a slow moving film. It is paced appropriately, but
contemporary viewers should be aware of the film’s style and not expect the
hyperactive nature of television.
DVD Extras: The Criterion Collection edition of The Virgin Spring includes a
commentary track, interviews, an introduction by Ang Lee, an English dub
soundtrack, an AFI Lecture by Bergman, and a booklet.
Bottom Line: The Virgin Spring is a slow but beautiful film and essential viewing for fans of Bergman or those interested in comparing the work of filmmakers like Wes Craven to their early influences.