The Virgin Spring

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The Virgin Spring ★★★½ Jungfrukallan 1959

Based on a medieval ballad and set in 14th-century Sweden. The rape and murder of young innocent Karin (Pattersson) spurs her father Tore (Van Sydow) to vengeance and he kills her attackers. Over the girl's dead body, the father questions how God could have let any of it happen, but he comes to find solace and forgiveness when a spring bursts forth from the spot. Stunning Bergman compositions. In Swedish with English subtitles; also available in dubbed version. 88m/B VHS, DVD . SW Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom, Brigitta Pattersson, Axel Duborg; D: Ingmar Bergman; W: Ulla Isaakson; C: Sven Nykvist; M: Erik Nordgren. Oscars ‘60: Foreign Film; Golden Globes ‘61: Foreign Film.

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