Wild Strawberries

Play trailer

Wild Strawberries

Released Jun 22, 1959

1h 30m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

50 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Crotchety retired doctor Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström) travels from Stockholm to Lund, Sweden, with his pregnant and unhappy daughter-in-law, Marianne (Ingrid Thulin), in order to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. Along the way, they encounter a series of hitchhikers, each of whom causes the elderly doctor to muse upon the pleasures and failures of his own life. These include the vivacious young Sara (Bibi Andersson), a dead ringer for the doctor's own first love.

Critics Consensus

Wild Strawberries were never so bittersweet as Ingmar Bergman's beautifully written and filmed look at one man's nostalgic journey into the past.

Read Critics Reviews

David Parkinson

Empire Magazine

Gunnar Fischer's photography becomes ever more luminous and Sjstrm's performance grows in greatness.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 23, 2013

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

It's a personal and profound work.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

With unyielding moral precision no less austere for the lack of any religious conviction behind it, Bergman subjects his protagonist to judgment for the crimes of indifference and selfishness, and pronounces a verdict of "the usual" sentence: loneliness.

Rated: A

Oct 29, 2008

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s an often painful drama and [Victor] Sjöström gives a vulnerable, moving performance as the crotchety, morally imperious old man... but it’s also one of Bergman’s warmest, most understanding, and most beautiful films.

Dec 16, 2023

Full Review

David Pountain

Vague Visages

Bergman's penchant for giving physical form to the conscious and subconscious mind is rarely more apparent than in his 1957 masterpiece Wild Strawberries.

Dec 12, 2023

Full Review

Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

What comes out is an evaluation of the human conscious and of the regrets and why one feels the way they do.

Mar 6, 2023

Full Review

Read all reviews

Alexsander F

É um filme fantástico, completamente existencialista no que a de essencial para os nossos questionamentos sobre a vida e a existência. É um longa que deve ser assistido diversas vezes ao longo da vida, para ter novas percepções, viva ao cinema realista, toda a minha ode a Ingmar Bergman, por essa conspícua obra de arte, que chega a ser quase um quadro impressionista.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/03/24

Full Review

Jack G

This movie is hard to comment on. It follows something philosophically similar to Ikiru or A Christmas Carol but without the acts of redemption. He just contemplates his life story and is then at peace by the end. I'm just not sure what the redeeming quality was.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/05/24

Full Review

Luca D

Definitely more bittersweet than most Bergman films. A coming of age movie, though not in a youthful sense. The movie shows from beginning to end how talking about your feelings can help everyone get a better sense of self. Many people ask how elderly people feel at the end of their lives and this movie directly addresses that. Thoughts of previous romances, regrets, and mistakes made in life. As usual, his films are very existential and religiously themed. Best to watch Bergman films alone. The ending will surely make you cry while smiling.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/24/24

Full Review

Panayiota K

I watched Bergman during a university course and I was afraid to watch anything else since. Too absurd for me. But i am so glad i gave this a chance because it is a beautiful movie. The scenes flow so rhythmically and it makes you think about life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Martyna K

Beautiful photos and peacful atmposphere cause this movie to be perfect for Bergman's psychological view on humanity. Sjostrom's reflection on his charakters' behaviour makes a person want to grab an old photo album and remember all the good things that happened to them in life

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/24

Full Review

Logan D

A crotchety doctor travels to Lund, Sweden, to receive an honorary degree. He is accompanied by his daughter-in-law and they encounter some hitchhikers. Along the journey, he contemplates the highs and lows of his own life. Very personal. Extremely profound. I still prefer Seventh Seal and Virgin Spring but this film is more touching. The opening dream segment is amazing. Recommended Inspired several of Woody Allen's films.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/23/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Ingmar Bergman

Director

Victor Sjöström

Dr. Isak Borg

Ingrid Thulin

Marianne Borg

Bibi Andersson

Sara

Gunnar Björnstrand

Dr. Evald Borg

Jullan Kindahl

Agda

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

Monika

100%

83%

Monika

Watchlist

Persona

91%

93%

Persona

Watchlist

Hour of the Wolf

92%

86%

Hour of the Wolf

Watchlist

The Rite

75%

71%

The Rite

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Michael Apted’s Five Favorite Films

Many More Mummy Movies May Be Made

Through Bergman’s Past, Brightly

View more photos

Synopsis

Crotchety retired doctor Isak Borg (Victor Sjöström) travels from Stockholm to Lund, Sweden, with his pregnant and unhappy daughter-in-law, Marianne (Ingrid Thulin), in order to receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. Along the way, they encounter a series of hitchhikers, each of whom causes the elderly doctor to muse upon the pleasures and failures of his own life. These include the vivacious young Sara (Bibi Andersson), a dead ringer for the doctor's own first love.

Director: Ingmar Bergman
Producer: Allan Ekelund
Screenwriter: Ingmar Bergman
Distributor: Video Yesteryear, Criterion Collection, Janus Films
Production Co: Svensk Filmindustri
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Swedish
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 14, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m
Sound Mix: Mono

Most Popular at Home Now