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The Virgin Spring Reviews

1960

70
from 1714 members

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 .. Read more

Starring	Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom, Brigitta Pattersson
Director	Ingmar Bergman, Ingmar Bergman
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Virgin Spring
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Bergman won his first Oscar for this cruel but unsensational medieval allegory, a tale of superstition, religious... read more on Time Out
- 45239
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:15
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Most helpful member's review of The Virgin Spring
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 9
  - 0
  Virgin Springs Anew
  
  This is a black and white film. Not because it’s filmed in monochrome, but because it’s from a time of contrasting certitudes.
  
  Bad men were... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 327967
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - johnnyL
  - County Antrim
  - 22 Mar 2005 at 01:32
Most recent members' reviews of The Virgin Spring
View all members' reviews (17)
- - 2
  - 0
  beautiful, simple tale
  
  What a revelation. I had not tried a Bergman film before, and I'm glad I started with this one. Beautifully shot, very poetically photographed, with no ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 940822
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - filmlover55
  - 108 reviews
  - New Malden
  - 19 Nov 2010 at 12:57
- - 1
  - 0
  Bergman gets medieval on your ass
  
  Cursed by her pregnant half sister, a young girl is raped and murdered by travelling goatherds. Her deeply religious father unwittingly gives them shelter ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 899134
- - Oldbloke
  - 222 reviews
  - Sidmouth
  - 16 Jun 2010 at 09:13
- - 1
  - 2
  A good place to start (and maybe finish?) with Bergman.
  
  This is the film Wes Craven later remade - sort of - in 'Last House on the Left.' It's actually pretty decent and also features a nasty killer who ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 851727
- - GlynIngram
  - 10 reviews
  - Bracknell
  - 20 Jan 2010 at 23:18
- - 0
  - 0
  Foreign Triumph
  
  Previously on my to see list, “The Virgin Spring”1959 Swedish film staring Max von Sydow, as a wealthy Christian, husband and father in medieval ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 607809
- - Joi
  - 133 reviews
  - Rochester
  - 03 Aug 2008 at 19:08
- - 0
  - 0
  A Deep Film
  
  A good film, very believeable. However, personally I found it a bit gloomy and a possibly to 'real' for a film. Not for the weak hearted due to some ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 604098
- - Soma
  - 18 reviews
  - Leeds
  - 27 Jul 2008 at 11:29
- - 0
  - 0
  stunning storytelling
  
  a superb film, a classic that goes deep in the art of storytelling through film, touching profound themes of innocence and evil. Really wonderfull cinema...
  
  Report this review
- 533313
- - a customer
  - Lewes
  - 01 Mar 2008 at 14:47
- - 0
  - 0
  Early Bergman Still One of the Best
  
  This is a truly great film. Seeing it again, nearly fifty years after its release, I am struck by its apparent self-belief and dramatic intensity. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 485965
- - a customer
  - Edinburgh
  - 18 Oct 2007 at 18:51
- - 0
  - 0
  Superb
  
  A great film from the master of angst and doom, although this tale, reportedly based on reality, has an uplifting ending, albeit religious. It is a brutal ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 483783
- - Cato
  - 554 reviews
  - Lydbury North
  - 10 Oct 2007 at 11:20
- - 0
  - 0
  almost a masterpiece
  
  An intriguing meditation on faith and betrayal, innocence and guilt told in a compelling recreation of a medieval folktale. According to the notes, Bergman as ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 197153
- - a customer
  - Bath
  - 22 Jan 2006 at 15:19
- - 1
  - 0
  Good, but I expected more.
  
  From reading reviews from others I was expecting another helping of Bergman genius - I got what I ordered, but no desert.
  
  'A day that starts out ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 120153
- - Edgar Jephcote
  - Notts, England
  - 02 Jul 2005 at 22:02
View all members' reviews (17)

- - 9
  - 0
  Virgin Springs Anew
  
  This is a black and white film. Not because it’s filmed in monochrome, but because it’s from a time of contrasting certitudes.
  
  Bad men were... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 327967
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - johnnyL
  - County Antrim
  - 22 Mar 2005 at 01:32
- - 3
  - 1
  Is part of the classics in film making
  
  The story is about innocence, misplaced trust and fatherly love. The film is captivating and gripping. Despite being in Swedish, the quality of the actors, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 19720
- - a customer
  - Liverpool
  - 26 Sep 2004 at 21:47
- - 2
  - 0
  beautiful, simple tale
  
  What a revelation. I had not tried a Bergman film before, and I'm glad I started with this one. Beautifully shot, very poetically photographed, with no ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 940822
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - filmlover55
  - 108 reviews
  - New Malden
  - 19 Nov 2010 at 12:57
- - 1
  - 0
  Famous for being a ...
  
  Famous for being a Vague but unmistakable inspiration for Wes Craven's notorious 'Last House on the Left', Bergmans film surpasss said horror film ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 21105
- - spp
  - manchester
  - 08 Oct 2004 at 16:20
- - 1
  - 0
  Not one for everyone...
  
  Not one for everyone. Nevertheless even those who are not into Bergmann should find this film to be a work of art
  
  Report this review
- 32534
- - Ian#51
  - EDINBURGH
  - 07 Apr 2004 at 09:13
- - 1
  - 0
  A surprisingly ...
  
  A surprisingly straightforward plot from Bergman and a powerful story, well told. The lighting and the simple yet vivid imagery of the film leave a deep ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 48774
- - Peter#149
  - NEWTON ABBOT
  - 05 Oct 2004 at 16:13
- - 1
  - 0
  To my mind one of ...
  
  To my mind one of Bergman's more straightforward films and his first masterpiece. In it you can see themes which will re-occur in many more of his movies
  
  Report this review
- 51997
- - a customer
  - OLDHAM
  - 03 Nov 2004 at 15:08
- - 1
  - 0
  Retribution
  
  Wonderful classic. A must see for film fans.
  
  Report this review
- 62207
- - a customer
  - Scotland
  - 05 Jan 2005 at 18:34
- - 1
  - 0
  Good, but I expected more.
  
  From reading reviews from others I was expecting another helping of Bergman genius - I got what I ordered, but no desert.
  
  'A day that starts out ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 120153
- - Edgar Jephcote
  - Notts, England
  - 02 Jul 2005 at 22:02
- - 1
  - 0
  Bergman gets medieval on your ass
  
  Cursed by her pregnant half sister, a young girl is raped and murdered by travelling goatherds. Her deeply religious father unwittingly gives them shelter ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 899134
- - Oldbloke
  - 222 reviews
  - Sidmouth
  - 16 Jun 2010 at 09:13

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

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- The Virgin Spring
  
  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 ...