Director: Ingmar Bergman
Year: 1957
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish
Victor Sjostrom is known as the father of Swedish Cinema, with films like the silent classic The Phantom Carriage (1921) he influenced great filmmakers like the legendary Ingmar Bergman who made this film. It is quite interesting that Victor Sjostrom agreed to be in not one, but two of Bergman's films. The first was To Joy (1950) and the second was Wild Strawberries. Bergman would only make this film if Sjostrom agreed to act in it, he did and to his delight won the National Board of Review's Best Actor award at 77 years old.
Wild Strawberries is about a seventy eight year old retired doctor and professor named Dr. Isak Borg (Victor Sjostrom) who has retreated from all forms of human contact with exception of his elderly caretaker. He is traveling from his home in Stockholm to Lund to accept an honorary degree. Instead of sticking to his original plan of flying, he decides to take a long drive with his daughter-in-law Marianne (Ingrid Thulin) instead. The many stops along the way remind him of his life, mainly his childhood and his cold mother.
Wild Strawberries reminds me of a Dicken's novel. Dr. Isak Borg starts out as a cold cynical old man but eventually becomes humbled. Through various important discussions, especially with his son Evald (Gunnar Bjornstrand) , we see the professor's journey to self discovery, self knowledge and the awareness of his own mortality. All these memories and flashbacks through his life shine a light on the character. We see his vulnerabilities and understand the reasons for his retreat from humanity.
While Ingmar Bergman is often seen as too pessimistic and dark, with this film we can see that it's not entirely the case. Wild Strawberries is the most optimistic and heartwarming film Bergman has made in his four decade long career. Like all of his films, the dialouge is extremely important. Conversations and moments that radiate the screen surely remind us of this man's redemption. Sjostrom's performance is remarkable, made only a few years before his death we must wonder if Sjostrom was going through the same thoughts and emotions of his character.
In conclusion, this film will likely having you question your own life as well. Making you reflect upon your decisions and likely living for the better. Surely, it will have you in a self reflective state long after the film is over. It is honest, emotional and intense. A brilliant character study that deserves to be seen by generations of people. Praise it! 4.5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment