Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Wild Strawberries

Released Jun 22, 1959 1h 30m Drama List
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.

Where to Watch

Wild Strawberries

Wild Strawberries

What to Know

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

Critics Reviews

View All (50) 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

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience 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
Wild Strawberries

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Monika 100% 83% Monika Persona 91% 94% Persona Hour of the Wolf 92% 86% Hour of the Wolf The Rite 75% 71% The Rite Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

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