Full Movie Reviews
Rating of
3.5/4
A mindblowing tale of taunt, nostalgia and old age
memento_mori - wrote on 08/20/2013
Ingmar Bergman is like a hornet. His films may not all be the best, but his screenwriting is just so remarkable, that some lines or certain scenes sting into my conscience and leave a lasting mark.
I do not believe Wild Strawberries to be his best work (The Seventh Seal still crowns that position), but it definitely achieves to fascinate me. I've seen films that were constructed the same way as this one, - flashbacks, dreams - but this one has a rare quality of suspense and question. And that's probably the highest praise I can give it.
The acting is uncanny. How vivid and natural every delivered line feels is just fascinating. Especially Bibi Anderson was exceptional in her two roles as old and new Sara. Even Max von Sydow is memorable in the one scene he is in.
Victor Sjöström …
Rating of
3.5/4
Wild Strawberries review
Daniel Corleone - wrote on 03/14/2012
A film that somewhat similar to It’s a Wonderful Life style of storytelling about a coldhearted Doctor. Evald hates children while Marianne decides on having the child. Uncle Isak who is “hard as nails,” reminisces his time with his cousin Sara who was picking strawberries and his other sadistic moments with the people in his life. A few interesting lines: Sara - “How unfair everything is.” “Some people are unselfish.” “You know so much and you don’t know anything.” Soundtrack was lovely and performances sincere. The scene with the fighting couple was a bit forced though. The film tackled the childhood memories, hypocrisy, loneliness, marriage and regret with the various characters. Cut scenes, flashbacks and various focuses of the camera were well utilized. …
Rating of
3.5/4
Smultronstallet!!
tecnoandre - wrote on 12/30/2011
Written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, about an old man recalling his past. The original Swedish title is Smultronstället, which literally means "the wild strawberry patch", but idiomatically means an underrated gem of a place (often with personal or sentimental value). The cast includes Victor Sjöström in his final screen performance, as well as Bergman regulars Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. Max von Sydow also appears in a small role. Bergman wrote the screenplay while hospitalized.Because it tackles difficult questions about life, and thought-provoking themes such as self-discovery and human existence, the film is often considered to be one of Bergman's most emotional, optimistic and best films.Exquisit cinematography and music.
Rating of
3.5/4
Life or Something Like It
Chris Kavan - wrote on 08/25/2009
A professor on his way to get an accolade, through a series of dreams, nightmares and visions reflects on a life lived, but if you aren't really living, is it a life at all? Ingmar Bergman is considered a premier film director for a reason, and Wild Strawberries is one of the main reasons.
When you look back on your life, what will you find? For Dr. Isak Borg (a powerful, final performance from Victor Sjostrom) the answer is not one he wants to face. Even though he's led a full life as medical doctor, a husband, a brother - it's been an empty life, a cold life and finally a lonely life. Using dream sequences, visions and nightmares, Bergman shows us a window to the past - chance encounters, memories, fears - when your mortality is put before you it is not often a pretty …
