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The Virgin Spring
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Synopsis
Inspired by a medieval Swedish ballad, Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (Jungfrukallan) begins with a scene of unspeakable brutality and ends with an image of uncommon beauty. 15-year-old Birgitta Peterson, on her way to church to light candles for the Virgin Mary, is raped and murdered by two older men. The men look for shelter at the home of Birgitta's father (Max von Sydow), who murders the bestial killers in cold blood. When the deed is done, Von Sydow, a deeply religious man, begins to question the efficacy of a God that would allow his daughter's death, then permit so bloody a retribution. Then, a fresh, virgin spring bubbles from the ground where his daughter had been lying a few moments before. Taking this natural phenonenon as a sign from above, Von Sydow vows to erect a church on the spot where Birgitta met her doom. The winner of the "best foreign picture" Academy Award, The Virgin Spring currently exists in several versions of varying lengths; the longest, and most graphic, is the original Swedish cut. Believe it or not, this hauntingly beautiful film served as the basis of The Last House on the Left (1972). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Cast

Gudrun Brost Frida
Axel Duberg Thin Herdsman
Leif Forstenberg Farm-hand
Tor Isedal Mute Herdsman
Gunnel Lindblom Ingeri
Oscar Ljung Simon
Birgitta Pettersson Karin
Axel Slangus Bridge Keeper
Max von Sydow Herr Tore
Birgitta Valberg Mareta Tore
Allan Edwall Beggar
Ove Porath Boy
Brigitta Pettersson Karin Tore

Production Crew

P.A. Lundgren Art Director
Sven Nykvist Cinematographer
Eric Nordgren Composer (Music Score)
Marik Vos-Lundh Costume Designer
Ingmar Bergman Director
Oscar Rosander Editor
Lenn Hjortzberg First Assistant Director
Allan Ekelund Producer
Ingmar Bergman Producer
Year: 1959
Runtime: 88
Country: Sweden
MPAA Rating:
Category: Feature

Genre
Drama

Produced by
Svensk Filmindustri
Swedish Film Production

Awards
1960 - Best Foreign Film - Golden Globe
1960 - Best Foreign Film - New York Film Critics Circle
1960 - Best Foreign Language Film - Academy
1960 - Best Foreign Language Film - Academy
1960 - Best Foreign Film - Golden Globe
1960 - Best Foreign Language Film - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1960 - Best Foreign Film - Hollywood Foreign Press Association