The Virgin Spring

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The Virgin Spring
original movie poster
Directed by	Ingmar Bergman
Produced by	Ingmar Bergman Allan Ekelund
Written by	Ulla Isaksson
Starring	Max von Sydow Birgitta Valberg Gunnel Lindblom Birgitta Pettersson
Music by	Erik Nordgren
Cinematography	Sven Nykvist
Distributed by	Janus Films
Release date(s)	February 8, 1960 November 14, 1960
Running time	89 min.
Language	Swedish
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Virgin Spring (Swedish: Jungfrukällan) is a 1960 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in medieval Sweden, it is a revenge tale about a father's merciless response to the murder of his daughter. The story is based on a 13th century Swedish ballad named "Töres dotter i Wänge" and which was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson. The Virgin Spring inspired the remake The Last House on the Left.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Awards and Nominations 4 References 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Synopsis

The Virgin Spring tells the story, set in medieval Sweden, of a prosperous Christian whose daughter, Karin (Birgitta Pettersson), the "light" child, is appointed to bring candles to the church. She is accompanied by her pregnant foster sister, Ingeri (Gunnel Lindblom), the "dark" child, who secretly worships the ancient Norse deity Odin. Along the way the two part, and Karin sets out on her own. She meets three herdsmen (two men and a boy), and invites them to eat her snack with her. Later on the two older brothers rape and murder Karin, then leave the scene with her clothing. The herders then, unknowingly, seek shelter at the home of the murdered girl. Her parents, played by Max von Sydow and Birgitta Valberg, discover that the goatherds murdered their missing daughter when the goatherds offer to sell Karin's clothes to her mother. Locking them in their chamber, the father then kills the two murderers, along with the not quite as guilty younger brother. The next day, the parents set out to find their daughter's body. Her father vows that, although he cannot understand God, he will build a church at the site of his daughter's death. As her parents lift her head from the ground, a spring begins to flow from where she was lying. Her sister Ingeri now wishes to wash herself with the water.

[edit] Cast

• Max von Sydow - Töre
• Birgitta Valberg - Märeta
• Gunnel Lindblom - Ingeri
• Birgitta Pettersson - Karin
• Axel Düberg - Thin Herdsman
• Tor Isedal - Mute Herdsman
• Allan Edwall - Beggar
• Ove Porath - Boy
• Axel Slangus - Bridge Keeper
• Gudrun Brost - Frida
• Oscar Ljung - Simon

[edit] Awards and Nominations

The Virgin Spring won the following awards:

• Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1961
• A Special Mention for Ingmar Bergman in the Cannes Film Festival 1960
• Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film-1961 (tie with La Vérité)
• Kinema Junpo Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Foreign Film Director (Ingmar Bergman)-1962

It was also nominated for the following categories:

• Golden Palm-Cannes Film Festival
• Best Costume Design, Black & White- 1961 Academy Awards

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. (November 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Fort Worth, Texas banned showings of the movie because of the rape scene, Janus Films v. City of Fort Worth, 354 S.W.2d 597 (1962), and the Texas Supreme Court upheld that ban. 358 S.W.2d 589 (Tex. 1962).

[edit] See also

• Middle Ages in film
• The Last House on the Left is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Wes Craven, the story of which closely follows The Virgin Spring.
• Falconer, a Swedish power metal band, performs a song 'Per Tyrssons Döttrar I Vänge' which is based on the old ballad which forms the basis of The Virgin Spring.

[edit] External links

• The Virgin Spring at the Internet Movie Database
• Criterion Collection essay by Peter Cowie
• DVD review at Blogcritics
• Per Tyrssons döttrar , also known as Herr Töres' döttrar - a version of the old ballad, in Swedish

Awards
Preceded by Black Orpheus	Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1960	Succeeded by Through a Glass Darkly
Preceded by Black Orpheus	Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film 1961	Succeeded by Through a Glass Darkly

v • d • e The films of Ingmar Bergman 1940s Crisis • It Rains on Our Love • A Ship to India • Music in Darkness • Port of Call • Prison • Thirst 1950s To Joy • This Can't Happen Here • Summer Interlude • Secrets of Women • Summer with Monika • Sawdust and Tinsel • A Lesson in Love • Dreams • Smiles of a Summer Night • The Seventh Seal • Wild Strawberries • Brink of Life • The Magician 1960s The Virgin Spring • The Devil's Eye • Through a Glass Darkly • Winter Light • The Silence • All These Women • Persona • Hour of the Wolf • Shame • The Rite • The Passion of Anna 1970s The Touch • Cries and Whispers • Scenes from a Marriage • The Magic Flute • Face to Face • The Serpent's Egg • Autumn Sonata 1980s From the Life of the Marionettes • Fanny and Alexander • Karin's Face • After the Rehearsal 1990s In the Presence of a Clown 2000s The Image Makers • Saraband

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