Rating: 
Summary: compassionate, human understanding
Review: Not being a big fan of Bergmans' work in the past, I was wildly impressed with the scope and depth of understanding this film conveyed. Using flashbacks and dream sequences, he conveys more about themes such as courage, pride, fear, and mortality than any movie that comes to mind. This is far from pretentious uber-film, unlike, say Wim Wenders or some Fellini, and I recommend it to any and all.
Rating:
Summary: Fruition.
Review: One of the most touching films I have ever seen. As the Criterion folks say on their box, *Wild Strawberries* is Ingmar Bergman's most humane movie -- it is, therefore, my favorite Bergman movie. Tell you the truth, I'm not always wild about this director. On a personal level, he seems to be a querulous, arrogant pain in the a--. His movies are simply a drag, often as not (I find *Cries and Whispers*, for example, unwatchable -- a terrible movie). The morbid, maudlin mood in many of his movies gets to be much too much. But in *Wild Strawberries*, the depression is leavened by an uncharacteristic -- and convincing -- affirmation of human lives and loves. But the road to that affirmation is a rocky one: Isak Borg, an octogenarian doctor, is on his way across the country (by funereal 1938 Packard) to receive a national merit award for his decades of service and brilliant practice. During the long ride, Borg finds himself mired in memories and fantasies about his past . . . and finds himself, well, facing himself. Is he able to do this? Watch the movie and find out. By the way, the movie works so brilliantly primarily because of Victor Sjostrom's performance -- surely one of the greatest ever on film. You miss the nuances on first viewing. On subsequent viewing, Sjostrom's subtlety and power become manifest, making it clear why you were so overwhelmed the first time. And the close-ups of Sjostrom's face at the very end of the film are as beautiful as any painting from a Renaissance master. To sum up: much like Isak Borg facing his past, every serious movie-lover must confront *Wild Strawberries* at some point. Fortunately, our experience won't be as uncomfortable. [Criterion's DVD comes with the best commentary I've ever heard for a film. Peter Cowie is a perfect match for *Wild Strawberries*: one of the world's most eminent film scholars on one of the world's most eminent movies. His comments are unobtrusive, on-point, wise, ripe with anecdote, educational. However, the accompanying 90-minute interview of Bergman by Jorn Donner was tough going. In fact, I couldn't get through it all. The pushy, crotchety director keeps arguing with everything the interviewer says. 90 minutes of that is too many for me.]
Rating:
Summary: the masterpiece
Review: swedish director ingmar bergman is, with this state-of-the-art film, at his peak of his possibilities then. everything fits in, like a puzzle, because it's it: flashbacks, rusty memories and the present blends smoothly into a picture of how things should have been. too late for a change of mind? perhaps...victor sjöstrom, the dean of swedish directors and bergman's "godfather" ends his real life with a shivering character. this movie explains perfectly that the key point of a journey is not the arrival but what is being found along the way. isak borg drives with his sister-in-law and finds out nothing is as it seems and nobody's perfect. one of the few movies i've seen that you'll get out of the theatre feeling completely clean, re-born, new.
Rating:
Summary: In our relations with [others] we mainly criticize them
Review: The scene is set as an elderly professor, Isak, is preparing to depart his home in order to receive an honorary degree from a University in Lund. But he then dreams of meeting with death, a dream that casts a whole different light on his life as he reflects on its meaning over the next few days. The Prof's daughter-in-law, who journeys with him by auto to Lund, serves as a catalyst. She is frank, telling him, "you've been accused of callousness, ruthlessness, selfishness." Beneath the surface, she explains, you're "cold as ice." Moreover, she is married to his son and finds him the very same. Prof. Isak visits his childhood home on the journey, and he has vivid memories (scenes) of his past life: the cousin he once loved, who married his brother instead; his mother/aunt, deaf uncle and other siblings; his long-deceased wife. The Prof. sees how lonely his life has been. They pick up three teenagers on the way; the youth are fresh and vigorous. The two boys argue over whether there is an after-life. They ask the aging Prof. what he thinks. This film is great in so many ways: the characters are honest and real. Their relationship problems are also real, and seldom addressed in this medium. They certainly gave this viewer pause for reflection. Wild Strawberries isn't a flashy film, but neither is it tedious. I love the way it moves and introduces new characters, each who add a new dimension. The fighting couple, for example, provide a racy yet tense interlude. Those of Swedish descent, may also be intrigued by the old world setting and cultural mannerisms of this film, and may see characteristics, perhaps, of their grandparents in its scenes. All in all, this is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Not a Criterion edition by accident. This film is a classic.
Review: This film is not entirely for elitist film enthusiasts, film students, or film geeks.
Just ask yourself:
1. Do you enjoy *good* use of black and white film?
2. Do you enjoy beautiful cinematography? (Just take a look at the DVD box cover... it's a gorgeous shot!)
3. Do you appreciate symbolism in film?
4. Are you not afraid to watch a movie with subtitles?
If you find yourself saying "Yes!" to one or more of the above, then I urge you to check this movie out.
Other points: It has one of the most brilliant dream sequences ever to be put to film. The women in "Wild Strawberries" are drop-dead beautiful; my old college roommate vowed to marry a blonde, Swedish girl after watching this movie. The dialogue, despite having to read the subtitles, is excellent, even funny at times.
Ingmar Bergman is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of of the 20th century. If you've never seen any of his work, then let this very accessible movie be your introduction. You don't have to be a snob to enjoy "Wild Strawberries", but you might turn into one after watching it!
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking and haunting
Review: This film moved me more than "Seventh Seal," because I feel that the "silence of God" theme is downplayed here in exchange for a more human focus. Victor Sjostrom is amazing. Every emotion and fleeting thought can be read in his wonderfully expressive eyes. Also, for those commenting on the title, it is foreshadowed in "Seventh Seal" when Block, the knight, shares a rare moment of calm with Mia and Jof when they eat "wild strawberries."
Rating:
Summary: It's wonderful this is now on DVD.
Review: This film turned me into an art film lover. On a whim one night in college, I trudged alone through the snow down to the local art-house theater to watch a showing of this movie. I've always been a movie lover, but my first glimpse of Bergman really showed me the level of art that cinema could aspire to. Isaak Borg, a man who's lived his life emotionally walled off even from his own family, is approaching death. On a trip to receive academic honors & visit his family, he reminisces & ruminates through flashbacks and nightmares, on his life and his regrets. It's a wonderful rumination on what gets left behind in life, and what becomes important when death approaches. The nightmarish scenes, especially the opener, and the scene of the test in the university, are to me some of the most psychologically disturbing sights commited to film.
Rating:
Summary: A Journey From Regret and Ignorance to Englightenment
Review: This is a film about a journey that many, if not all of us, eventually go through: a journey in which, in our old age, our regrets from the past arrive in front of our faces and give us a low, sinking feeling inside. Regret is present in all of our lives. However, if we are able to somehow become strong enough, optimistic enough, and brave enough, we'll be able to stare our regrets in the face and make peace with ourselves, before we have to go off to meet the stone cold hands of death. I hope I don't sound too "deep," gloomy, or spiritual, but the aforementioned statements are exactly what Wild Strawberries is all about. However, on top of the usual amount of regret that a human being has, Isak Borg also buries his regrets and his deep, overwhelming sadness beneath his pretigious job and the academic accomplishments he has made. By experiencing a series of incredibly frightening visions, plus taking a road trip with his daughter in law, Isak is able to carve away at the stone that has sat atop his true, often-upsetting feelings and memories for so many decades. Dr. Borg becomes in touch with his subconscious and remembers how his heart was broken when he saw his childhood love Sara with someone else, and also when he saw his wife with another man. Also, Borg feels death calling him via an infamous vision in which he sees his own corpse in a casket. Perhaps these menacing thoughts, along with his daughter in law's comments, make him realize that he has become a mummy, much like Kanji Watanabe in Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Ikiru. The truly upsetting part about all of this is that Evald, Borg's son, is terribly against his wife bringing a child into this world. He views this world as a cold and callous place, in which he can't stand to live one more day. As stated by other viewers, there is also present-day Sara and her two male friends, who may be seen as reincarnations of childhood era-Sara, Isak, and Sigfrid. As one can tell, Bergman is a master of subtlely using allegories, metaphors, and symbolism. The final layer of Wild Strawberries which I'd like to discuss is one of Bergman's favorite subjects: the existence and holiness of Jesus Christ versus the non-existence of God. I don't know much about Bergman but I know that he has some negative impressions of Christianity due to his father. However, I view one of the most important scenes, which occurs towards the end of the film, as being rather pro-Christian. When Borg is asked to recite his duties as a doctor and isn't able to do so, he asks Death what the penalty for his failures as a human being are, and Death then responds with "loneliness," to which Isak Borg asks "Is there any cure?" Death simply replies "I don't know. Don't ask me." Had Borg believed in Christ and not solely relied on science for all the answers of the world, he would have a Redeemer. However, since he looks to science to solve life's questions and to dodge the pain of past regrets, he is left with nobody to turn to besides Death, who, naturally, has no sympathy at all.
I have a hunch many of you will find my analysis to be way too pro-Christian for a Bergman film, but if we assume that the character he speaks to is supposed to symbolize Death, I think my analysis would make some sense. I'm not saying Christ is God, but instead I'm trying to work with Christianity since that's what Bergman's father and the vast majority of his countrymen practiced. Of course, such an excellent film deserves a beautiful ending, and this is exactly what we get when an enlightened Isak Borg views his parents, whom he remembers as being bitter towards each other, sitting in complete delight and joy beneath a bright, summer sky. Though my review may sound complicated and some of you may disagree with some of my points and/or know more about Bergman's movies than I, I urge anyone and everyone who is even remotely interested in a film's ability to convey moving truths to go out and buy this masterpice on dvd!
Rating:
Summary: a must for any film buff
Review: this is a masterpiece and is required viewing for any of you wannabe directors out there. it's a beautiful mix of narrative, montage, a Surreal scene here and there, and some great acting. the female lead, Bibi Andersson i think, is a particularly striking woman. she plays the daughter of an aging professsor who is going on a trip to receive and honorary award from a university (you've probably already heard that Woody Allen based much of 'Deconstructing Harry' on this movie and of course, Allen is a Bergman fan...). along the way, he relives memories of his life and begins to bond with his somewhat estranged daughter. if you found this movie at Amazon then you're probably looking for something interesting, moving and stimulating. Wild Strawberries is all of that. a film everyone should see...
Rating:
Summary: A giant film !
Review: This is one of the best films in his prodigious career . Victor Sjostrom will make a special journey to receive a Prize but along the film he will experience bits of his past experiences
And will become aware of his shortcomings , failures and fallings .
The clock sequence still turns in my mind .
A timeless, superb, classic and shocking movie that will disturb you for a long, long time.
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