Wild Strawberries: Time, Memory and Reflection

Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries) is a black-and-white road movie from 1957, directed by Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman. It is a story about memories, regrets, aging and the meaning of life. The main character, 78-year old Professor Isak Borg, played by Victor Sjöström, is traveling to Lund to receive an honorary award. As he travels there, he reflects on his past, his life’s choices, and his relationships with others. Along the way, he meets different people who challenge his views on life, love and regret. Through these interactions, Isak begins to question his choices, his relationships, and his fear of aging. This journey becomes not only a physical one but also an emotional exploration of his own fears and desires. The movie shifts between reality and dreams, allowing Isak to explore his emotions and memories. His experiences on the road become a profound journey into his own heart, challenging him to confront unresolved feelings and ultimately reconsider his view of life, love and forgiveness.

The Swedish title Smultronstället is an idiom. It means a secret, special, peaceful place filled with memories. The movie is full of symbols.

One of the film’s most fascinating aspects is the casting of Victor Sjöström as Isak Borg. Sjöström was not only an actor but a pioneering Swedish filmmaker, best known for directing silent classics such as The Phantom Carriage (1921). Bergman revered Sjöström and saw him as a link to cinema’s past, making his performance all the more poignant. At 78, Sjöström delivered an astonishingly vulnerable and deeply personal portrayal. His weary but expressive face, shaped by decades of filmmaking, contrasts sharply with Bibi Andersson, who plays both Sara, Isak’s youthful lost love, and a modern-day hitchhiker with the same name. Andersson, a frequent Bergman collaborator, brings warmth and charm to the film, making her scenes some of the most vibrant and memorable.

Ingmar Bergman was known for his masterful use of light and shadows to convey emotions and enhance the mood of his films. In Wild Strawberries, the play between light and dark is especially important. Keep an eye on how light highlights certain scenes and characters, while shadows create an eerie or reflective atmosphere. Wild Strawberries is one of Bergman’s most famous films. It is about sadness and regret, but also about hope and understanding. The film asks deep questions: What makes a good life? Can we change before it’s too late?

Elizaveta Kachuro
Guest Curator, Kyiv Cinema Society

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