Review of The Virgin Spring (1960) by Giuseppe P — 27 Sep 2012
An extraordinary tale about error and faith. The powerful image of a man betrayed by his god, left alone and without comfort or redemption but still giving himself to what he knows must exist is a poignant statement, and even if God has given up on this father we are given the chance to forgive him.
Bergman's use of such a confined space here is intruiging, and the film's tone has echoes of Kurosawa in it. Shadows can be warm blankets or cold rashes, and what is originally set up in the mise-en-scene as comfortably quaint evntually becomes suffocating.
Max Von Sydow is spectacular in an extremely revealing role, and Birgitta Valberg is tragically innocent. A breathtaking achievement.
This review of The Virgin Spring (1960) was written by Giuseppe P on 27 Sep 2012.
The Virgin Spring has generally received very positive reviews.
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