THE VIRGIN SPRING is a drama, which questions moral and religious themes through events of rape and revenge.
In medieval Sweden a rich grandees sends his daughter to take candles to the church. She is accompanied by her pregnant servant, who secretly worships a Norse deity. They travel through the forest on horseback. The servant is scared and begins to lag behind. She encounters a one-eyed man at an old mill. The one-eyed man tried to harass her. During that time, three herders lurk a beautiful daughter...
Mr. Bergman has tried, in an explicit, rude and brutal way to equalize a criminal and a vigilante. Moral games have reflected through human power in certain moments, which is in contrast with the fear of God. Rape is very realistic and brutal in this film. This could cause the opposite effect on the audience. This, regardless of the "Bergman's artistic magic", was unexpected. An innocent teenage story turns into a nightmare. However, the religious motive is constant. Symbols of innocence were killed in a primal passion and an unbearable pain.
A medieval scenery contributes to a visual impression. Expressions on the faces says a lot more than words. All characters are faced with some form of a guilt.
Max von Sydow as Töre is a stubborn husband, caring father and fanatical avenger. Birgitta Valberg as Märeta is the mother, who is full of understanding and superstition at the same time. Birgitta Pettersson is a naive and innocent beauty. Gunnel Lindblom as Ingeri is a cursed maid. I will mention Ove Porath (Boy), who is perhaps a stronger symbol of innocence as opposed to beauty.
All living protagonists have experienced a "strange" purification at the end of the film.
