Rating: 
Summary: Perfect edition of a masterpiece
Review: Criterion have produced another superb edition here. The image quality is exceptional. There is an entertaining and educational commentary from Peter Cowie (also heard on Criterion's issues of The Seventh Seal & Autumn Sonata by Bergman). And there is a ninety minute conversation, filmed in 1998, between the seventy-nine year old Bergman and his friend, the writer, Jorn Donner. For those of you interested in other Bergman titles on DVD, Tartan Video has released many in the UK, and they are available via Amazon.co.uk - the sound and image quality of these are excellent.
*
The film itself seemlessly blends reality with dream and memory, and in so doing asks how clear are the distinctions ordinarily drawn between these states. Bergman remarks that the genesis of many of his films were dreams - he remembers virtually all his dreams in vivid detail, and this facility influences his work wonderfully. Yet Bergman had extensive experience in theatre, both writing plays and directing classics, and, of course, in film - in fact he was involved in over 20 films prior to this - so the film has none of the laxity or directionlessness of dreams. He structures each scene, and indeed the film as a whole, tautly, adhering to dramatic priniciples, and sustains the viewer's interest throughout.
*
As an evocation of a state of mind particular to old age, Wild Strawberries is remarkable. Peter Cowie's comments intimate that he, a contemporary of Bergman's, finds this especially moving - his commentary is definitely worth experiencing. The life situation of the lead actor, Victor Sjostrom, was in some ways uncomfortably close to that of the character he was portraying - beset by health problems, aged 79 and himself contemplating death - and one senses how these personal issues enrich his performance and make it horribly disturbing and moving. Borg seems at once sweet and irascible, and Sjostrom was reported not dissimilar on set. Further resonances occur in the 1998 interview with Donner, where Bergman has eerily metamorphosed imperfectly into a version of Isak Borg (Cowie points out they share the same initials).
*
While dominated by the figure of the aged medical Professor, the film contains many counterpoints. Ingrid Thulin as his daughter-in-law is a magnetic screen presence and a remarkable actress (see Bergman's 'Winter Light' for an entirely different performance) - her marital relationship throws Borg's own history into relief. Gunnar Bjornstand's, as husband to Thulin and son to Borg, delivers an icy performance, some of their interchanges being amongst Bergman's most 'chilling', to borrow a word from Cowie's commentary. Then there is the host of grotesque minor characters, each in their own way perfectly drawn. The surface of this film is incredibly complex, and to reduce it to merely 'the reminiscences of an old man on his way to receive an honourary degree', or some such summary, is a misleading injustice.
*
Perhaps also of interest is Woody Allen's film, 'Deconstructing Harry', where an aged writer similarly travels out of town to receive an honorary degree, examining his own life in the process. Woody's use of 'Wild Strawberries' as a template for his own concerns is masterful and, of course, very funny. The skill in the writing and structure of this film is of the highest order. If it fails to match Bergman anywhere, perhaps it is in the imagery, Bergman visuals being formally astonishing, no doubt aided by his cinematographer, Gunnar Fischer.
*
In the interview, Bergman recounts his time in a mental asylum in the 1970's; he also mentions his last wife's death, and other personal details that are startling in their candour. Yet, perhaps a measure of his achievement lies in the fact that his films reveal his thoughts and inner life much more perceptively than even this apparently unguarded conversation. He has expressed himself with unparalleled skill through his art.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most compelling films I have ever seen
Review: First warning - I was a film major and therefore my tastes are not mainstream at all. My preferences evolved towards directors who focus on telling their narrative by take painstating care on each frame necessary. My favorite mainstream directors are Kubrick, Allen and Scorsese. Woody Allen himself is a Ingmar Bergman student and I have always thought his film "Another Woman" was molded after Bergman's "Wild Strawberries"Only a few times in my life have I had the pleasure of being stunned by a film. The first viewing of the film simply blew me with the vision and the unfolding story and deconstruction of the main character. As all Bergman films this is masterfully shot with fine acting. It deals with dark themes of death and the life reflections of a elderly man on a journey to receive a honorary degree. Simply put it is a film makers, film. Without a mature knowledge of the medium it is unlikely the casual viewer will find the experience anything but a cure for insomnia. It should fit the bill for those who enjoy a mature character studies, regardless of pace or action included. This film has made numerous "Best films of all time" lists as compiled by scholars and film academies. SIMILAR FILMS Raging Bull (Scorsese) Interiors, Another Woman (Allen) 2001 (Kubrick) Belle De Jour (Bunuel) The 400 Blows (Truffaut)
Rating:
Summary: Bergman's Humanism
Review: I am not going to summarize the plot. Amazon.com's editors do a good job of that. I watched this, Wild Strawberries, right after viewing of The Seventh Seal. Both films have extremely strong visuals and both deal with similar themes--Bergman remains convinced that there is nothing beyond death and hence his characters are symbolizations of the director's existential angst. However, while the characters in The Seventh Seal are archetypal and theatrical, Isaac Borg is extremely human. He is real and so are his emotions and sentiments (with which Bergman so passionately sympathizes). This makes the film touching and Borg's failures and triumphs become our own. There is another review of this film by a customer (Brian Ridge), which claims that the reason he liked the film is because he is (or was) a film major, which makes it difficult for the rest of the "mainstream" to like this movie. He is mistaken, Bergman's films were very well recieved by the American "mainstream." Indeed, it was Bergman who pioneered the American foreign film market. Secondly, the films which he names as being similar to this one are, quite frankly, just some movies by major international directors--Bunuel, Bergman, Kubrick, Allen, Scorsese, etc. These are all great directors but that does not make their cinema "similar." Each had their own cinematic concerns. The only similarity between these directors is that one does not need a film degree to appreciate them!
Rating:
Summary: One of those movies that changes your life
Review: I first saw this film as a wide-eyed college student in the 1970s, and it literally changed my life. That doesn't mean that it doesn't speak to more (or less) mature audiences. Anyone, looking back and examining his life--which we all do at various times--can identify with this film and its protagonist. In fact, this is one of those movies that I watch annually. This is also the movie that first showed me--back those many years ago--that movies can be more than the standard Hollywood fare (and some of my favorite movies ARE Hollywood fare). The opening dream sequence is startling, and not like anything I had seen in a movie before. The movie has its flaws: I'm not sure the "hitchhiking teenagers" really work, but there are so many other things in this film that work perfectly. And the concluding scene--of the elderly Isak Borg finally remembering his long-dead parents fondly, sitting peacefully on a river bank fishing in the distance always brings me to tears--even more so since my own parents passed away. This is a movie everyone should see--so get over your silly aversion to black & white and subvert your subtitle-phobia and watch this classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Wild About Wild Strawberries
Review: I hate to disagree with all of those reviews out there! But, I must if I am to be honest with myself. I am a huge movie buff and so I will watch nearly anything. I heard this movie was very good and so I put it on my list of movies to see. I taped this off of Bravo and waited to watch it when I knew I was attentive enough for subtitles. I watched the whole movie with interest. I consider it a mediocre film at best. It was interesting to travel with this elderly man as he journeyed through his life again, reliving and contemplating key scenes. Also, I was intrigued by his aloof manner, especially with his daughter-in-law. She was staying with him because she was unhappy in her marriage to his son... mostly because the son was too much like his father in his obtuseness. In summary, 'Wild Strawberries' is interesting and thought provoking, but I was not wild about it... I hope you will enjoy it more.
Rating:
Summary: BERGMAN'S BEST....ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME!
Review: I love this movie! I'm a hugh Bergman fan and this is my favorite. The movie is so personal to me it's hard not to like. Just about anyone can relate to the main character. We all have certain things we NOW look upon with great disgust. Things now if given the chance we wish we could have than different.I certainly I DO! It's for this reason I enjoy this movie to the degree I do. Plus Bergman's GREAT directing and Great acting. BERGMAN'S BEST!
Rating:
Summary: All that, and Jorg Donner's interview
Review: I need not repeat all the fine words of the previous writers, except to say I am grateful to Criterion for delivering the same crisp print I remember from years ago when WS was first available in the US. What a fine accomplishment. (Would that the company were to concentrate on historic preservation, as opposed to some of its recent dubious works.)
What I also admire in this DVD is the interview conducted by Jorg Donner. He so well draws out Ingmar Bergman on such a wide variety of issues that you come away with a marvelous intellectual and emotional portrait of the artist. What is more, you hear from the maestro's own mouth of the breadth of his own work during his nearing century --- over 50 films, countless theatrical and operatic productions, some 120, which continue to propel him in his advancing age.
Bergman may well be the Shakespeare of our own age, and Donner's drawing out helps you to realize this. As The Bard drew his English from the first Book of Common Prayer, so may Bergman be the artistic idiom from which not only some of the present filmmakers and writers receive their inspiration, but perhaps may well project into the future.........if writers and directors are wise. For just as Bergman struggled with the Svensk Filmindustri in his early development (just as did Kurosawa with the Japanese Film Institute), so must the present and next generation struggle to find meaning. Not that I am seeing much from them right now, you understand.....
Donner also helps us to see that Ingmar continues to be a work in progress, still growing and changing in aspect of mind and body, proving that the apogee is not met at some legislated retirement age. What a fine interview!
My mind's eye returns to the movie. Isn't it a marvel how Bergman develops his characters, especially the venerable Victor Sjostrom, and the simultaneous vulnerability and lyricism of the kids? What a sweet show.
This is filmmaking at its best, and restoration at its highest. I only regret that Amazon (the Greek of that word literally meaning "the breastless ones") prohibits me from giving more than five stars, five less than in my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Probably not for young people, generally.
Review: I think that this is a great movie; it's well filmed and well thought out and it kept me interested the whole way through. However before you rush out to see it, keep this in mind: 1. Would you be interested in watching a story about an old man?
2. Would you have the experience of years to appreciate the ideas behind this movie? This movie interested ME, and I'm only 17 at the time of writing, but I think that I'm probably the exception; certainly most people my age wouldn't be very interested in watching this, simply because death isn't something that they ever really think about. This film will probably be best enjoyed by those who feel the strains of time, and by academic proffessors like the one that this movie is about. Most other people will probably notice director Ingmar Bergman's masterful use of images in this film, but will feel like this film doesn't really pertain to them. (It will, though. Write down the title and watch it in 40 years!) Another thing that I'd just like to add at the end is that this film is in Swedish with subtitles, in case you didn't know. I personally really like the sound of Swedish being spoken, except sometimes what they say isn't translated, which can be a bit annoying... this film can also provide a kind of glimpse of the Swedish way of looking at things; subtle things that are different from other places, which can be interesting if you pay attention.
Rating:
Summary: A Classic Masterpiece, Completely Pleasent To Watch
Review: I wasn't familiar with Ingmar Bergman until I watched this incredible, astonishing masterpiece of the 50's. Wild Strawberries tells the story of Isak Born (interpretated by Victor Sjöström, in a very memorable acting),long-time medical professor, who is about to receive a honorary recognition of his work from his former university. The story unfolds and focus more during his travel to the university, in which he turns to learn more about himself and his keening manners and thoughts, not to mention his remembrances and the people he meets, offering them a free ride for their destinations. He also has to deal with his son's ruined marriage, due to a unwelcome child. Bergman gives a very humanist view here, discussing themes such as the human science against divine beliefs (God), death and loneliness, all together with some escaping irony and sarcasm.
Something I find pretty interesting to mention is that he everything he dreams, he consider them as "messages". Sigmund Freud once said that purpose of dreams are to notice situations or discomforts.
Despite interpretations, this movie is good as hell. Or as God. Or as human science
Rating:
Summary: Take the hands off your clock and watch this one
Review: If you're a lover of classic foreign films like I am, you eagerly anticipate new DVD releases from the Criterion collection. Indeed, Wild Strawberries is reason enough to own a DVD player if you don't have one already. This beautifully enhanced, sharp copy includes an informative audio commentary track, as was featured on their DVD release of The Seventh Seal. This DVD also contains a generous 90-minute interview with Bergman in which the major themes of his life and work are
discussed, interspersed with rare photos. The interview portion of this release is a film on its own and would be reason enough to own this DVD. More rare photos are included in a stills gallery. And then there's the film itself -- just as moving and inspiring an experience as when I first saw it in a film study course in high school years ago. Being able to own Wild Strawberries on DVD in all its intended cinematic glory is not just a real treat, but the evidence Bergman once yearned for, that indeed, there is a God. For film lovers, anyway.
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