Wild Strawberries (1957) – 8/10 – A meditation on mortality and existentialism
Overall
Wild Strawberries is a psychological drama classic. Director Ingmar Bergman, a well-studied director from Sweden, is famous for making experimental, introspective-style movies that inspired generations of later filmmakers. Legends such as Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, Satyajit Ray, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, and Denis Villeneuve all show traces of their styles in Wild Strawberries. It’s said that Bergman’s works were personal as he grappled with the very existential issues he portrayed, which was rarely done before him. This is the first Bergman movie I’ve watched, so I only knew him from ‘greatest directors’ lists. I believe this film remains relevant in our current age, when so many people experience isolation. Wild Strawberries reaches beyond plot and character; it becomes a meditation on the search for meaning as death knocks. We each confront existential and identity crises at one point or another in life. The protagonist’s reflections on mortality are universal and unavoidable, and this makes the film deeply relatable in ways beyond the narrative and individuals. Although I must state, you don’t need to understand every nuance for the story to be enjoyable. You can focus on the dialogue, visuals, and surface-level details, all of which offer plenty.
Would I recommend this?
Even though it is on IMDb’s top 250, I don’t think it is essential viewing. Though it’s enjoyable in many respects, the messages are abstract and don’t offer many answers. If you are a direct person, the indirect story here might frustrate you. This experience’s varied impact on individuals is both its strength and its drawback, depending on one’s stage in life and prior experiences. The characters are not always relatable because it’s the main character’s personal quest. We’re remote witnesses and only along for the ride to bear witness to the protagonist’s faults, regrets, anxiety, and lack of aspirations. It’s a depressing, melancholic account to contemplate, even if the ending leaves you feeling serene. I think the takeaway message is that we must engage with, understand, and accept our past if we hope to truly move forward from our past mistakes and flaws. My rating is 8/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
A university in Lund offers an honorary degree to Dr. Isak Borg (Victor Sjostrom), an aging, retired medical doctor and professor. He opts to drive from Stockholm rather than fly. Dr. Isak hasn’t maintained or formed relationships with others because of his cold, aloof demeanor. For the ride, his daughter-in-law Marianne joins him in returning home to her husband and Isak’s son, Evald. A doctor himself, Evald too has a cold, hard personality, and Marianne is considering divorcing him. While on his journey, Isak recalls his life and important occurrences from the past. The people he encounters remind him of different aspects of his past, including the key individuals from his earlier days. He also has nightmares that bring to light his somber personality. These chance encounters and nightmares force him to confront his inner self, doubts, and regrets.
Technicals
Bergman has a unique approach to storytelling. He uses plenty of indirect subtext, surrealism, and a nonlinear filming style, making details difficult to grasp. For this work, the notable aspects were the direction, performances, cinematography, and the somber, poetic atmosphere. Several dream sequences are sensational. Ingmar Bergman may be a complex director, yet it’s clear why his films are considered artistic. They transcend character development, plot structure, and traditional narrative approaches. They break the common barrier we’re accustomed to, and it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Here are a few issues I faced. First, Bergman employs many symbolic images, but it can be a struggle to interpret them. It’s not a movie problem or a Bergman flaw by any means, but a flaw on my end. I’m sure I can find many articles and analyses to help me understand everything. Second, I struggled to connect with the characters even though I could relate and empathize with their trials and tribulations. Finally, the pace is slow with stretches of actionless moments that may cause you to drift, as I occasionally did. Reading subtitles doesn’t make it any easier.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
