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The Virgin Spring

Original title: Jungfrukällan
  • 19601960
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
29K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jungfrukällan (1960)
  • Drama
In 14th-century Sweden, an innocent yet pampered teenage girl and her family's pregnant and jealous servant set out from their farm to deliver candles to church, but only one returns from ev... Read allIn 14th-century Sweden, an innocent yet pampered teenage girl and her family's pregnant and jealous servant set out from their farm to deliver candles to church, but only one returns from events that transpire in the woods along the way.In 14th-century Sweden, an innocent yet pampered teenage girl and her family's pregnant and jealous servant set out from their farm to deliver candles to church, but only one returns from events that transpire in the woods along the way.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
29K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ingmar Bergman
  • Writer
    • Ulla Isaksson
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Birgitta Valberg
    • Gunnel Lindblom
Top credits
  • Director
    • Ingmar Bergman
  • Writer
    • Ulla Isaksson
  • Stars
    • Max von Sydow
    • Birgitta Valberg
    • Gunnel Lindblom
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 114User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 6 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos96

    Axel Düberg, Tor Isedal, and Ove Porath in Jungfrukällan (1960)
    Gunnel Lindblom and Birgitta Pettersson in Jungfrukällan (1960)
    Max von Sydow and Birgitta Valberg in Jungfrukällan (1960)
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Max von Sydow, Brigitta Pettersson 1960 SF
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Brigitta Pettersson 1960 SF
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Max von Sydow 1960 SF
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Max von Sydow, Brigitta Pettersson 1960 SF
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Max von Sydow, Brigitta Pettersson 1960 SF
    "Jungfrukallan" (aka "The Virgin Spring") Brigitta Pettersson 1960 SF
    Jungfrukällan (1960)
    Jungfrukällan (1960)
    Jungfrukällan (1960)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Max von Sydow
    Max von Sydow
    • Töreas Töre
    Birgitta Valberg
    Birgitta Valberg
    • Märetaas Märeta
    Gunnel Lindblom
    Gunnel Lindblom
    • Ingerias Ingeri
    Birgitta Pettersson
    Birgitta Pettersson
    • Karinas Karin
    Axel Düberg
    Axel Düberg
    • Thin Goat Herderas Thin Goat Herder
    Tor Isedal
    Tor Isedal
    • Mute Goat Herderas Mute Goat Herder
    Allan Edwall
    Allan Edwall
    • Beggaras Beggar
    Ove Porath
    Ove Porath
    • Boy Goat Herderas Boy Goat Herder
    Axel Slangus
    • Bridge Keeperas Bridge Keeper
    Gudrun Brost
    Gudrun Brost
    • Fridaas Frida
    Oscar Ljung
    Oscar Ljung
    • Simonas Simon
    Tor Borong
    • Old Farm-handas Old Farm-hand
    Leif Forstenberg
    • Young Farm-handas Young Farm-hand
    • Director
      • Ingmar Bergman
    • Writer
      • Ulla Isaksson
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Set in creepy 14th century Sweden, it is the sombre, powerful fable of wealthy land-owning parents whose daughter, a young virgin, is brutally raped and murdered by goat herders after her half sister has invoked a pagan curse. By a bizarre twist of fate, the murderers ask for food and shelter from the dead girl's parents, who, discovering the truth about their erstwhile lodgers, exact a chilling revenge. —L.H. Wong <as9401k56@ntuvax.ntu.ac.sg>
    • rape
    • revenge
    • virgin
    • murder
    • pregnancy
    • 129 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The bridge keeper played by Axel Slangus clearly is supposed to be Odin. Beside his comments about recognizing Ingeri as if they have met before (suggesting he heard her prayer at the beginning of the film), there are several nods to Odinic lore. Before the bridge keeper appears, a raven is seated outside his hut. The raven was considered to be sacred to Odin. When the bridge keeper is finally shown up close, it can be seen that he is one-eyed, which is Odin's most prominent feature, having sacrificed an eye to attain wisdom. Finally, when Ingeri sits in the high-seat, she suddenly has seemingly clairvoyant hearing. This is a nod to Odin's high-seat Hlidskjalf, from which he could see all things happening in the world.
    • Goofs
      When the Boy Goat Herder is placing dirt on Karin's body, her torso moves even though she is supposed to be dead.
    • Quotes

      Beggar: See the smoke trembling under the roof as if with fright? Yet when it gets out in the air, it has the whole sky to swirl about in. But it doesn't know that, so it huddles and trembles in the soot under the roof. It's the same with people. They quiver like a leaf in the storm, afraid of what they know and what they don't know.

    • Connections
      Featured in Ljuset håller mig sällskap (2000)

    User reviews114

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Compelling and frightening
    A powerhouse piece of filmmaking from one of the all-time great directors. This 14th-century exploration of good and evil, morality and chaos, love and revenge is pretty much a faultless viewing experience and one which retains its ability to shock and provoke thought in the viewer even today. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see this on first release.

    The story is deceptively simple and yet filled with harrowing imagery. The assault in the woods is difficult to watch, even in these jaded times, and of course Bergman wrings the maximum tension out of it right from the very beginning. The second half is, perhaps, even more tense, with the expectation of impending violence and the strong, subtle filmmaking techniques (think: lots of lurking shadow, religious iconography, haunted faces). The excellent use of black and white photography reminded me of Kurosawa's work on RASHOMON. Max von Sydow holds it all together as the brusque father and family man, but he heads a cast who can do no wrong.

    Wes Craven went for a lurid, contemporary remake in LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, but despite the graphic nature of Craven's film I don't think it holds a candle to this one.
    helpful•15
    4
    • Leofwine_draca
    • Feb 21, 2011

    FAQ8

    • What is 'The Virgin Spring' about?
    • Is 'The Virgin Spring' based on a book?
    • How does the Swedish title 'Jungfrukällan' translate?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 1960 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • Sweden
    • Languages
      • Swedish
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Die Jungfrauenquelle
    • Filming locations
      • Dalarnas län, Sweden
    • Production company
      • Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,528
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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