Episode 42 - The Virgin Spring

Bob and I watch and review “The Virgin Spring”. A movie released to critical success in the US, but was panned by critics in Europe at the time. The film was banned in some parts of the US for the depiction of a young virgin, Karin, being raped and murdered. But that is only one aspect of the film. In some respects, the story is a very simple tale of innocence and revenge. On another level, or maybe several other levels, the film is a critique of religion and the clash between the old gods and the new Christian god, it’s also a tale of the tensions that exist between family members, and the price that one must pay for carrying out acts of violence whether they be meaningless or whether they are seemingly to avenge the senseless death of another innocent person. The quote above is from a scene in the movie where one character is foreshadowing the death and after-life of another character. It demonstrates the powerful writing in the film. The story is derived from a 13th century ballad. Ulla Isaksson adapted the ballad for film. She also gives an amazing commentary to the film on the Criterion Collection DVD. Directed by Ingmar Bergman, Starring Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom and Birgitta Pettersson, “The Virgin Spring” won the Oscar in 1961 for Best Foreign Language Film. It continues to have a powerful impact to this day.