Review of The Virgin Spring (1960) by Sabra E — 16 Nov 2010

I'm not much on violent scenes in films, especially violent rape/murder scenes. This is why I can't let myself watch Gaspar Noe's "Irreversible." This is why the thought of Zed in "Pulp Fiction" makes me cringe.

Having seen a few of Bergman's films: The Seventh Seal, Persona...it's noted that he favors symbolism, the questioning of God's existence; themes of nature, purity, depravity. I knew the premise for "the Virgin Spring," before watching it; for the most part, it still made me uneasy.

The dread was impenetrable, suffocating...the victims innocent, the hostility and jealousy for the innocent, too true, too real; the honesty was beautiful and ugly, and I felt tense in the duality of it all. My face held the look of concern. My stomach cramped. I felt despair for lack of feeling sad or sorry for any of the characters.

Then I too shared the guilt of resenting the girl who was murdered, for being so naive, so trustworthy going into the deep, dark woods and offering her company to the shadiest of desperate men.

Bergman, in the end, had won. He's warped and conflicted my feelings and made me ask myself whether or not I was a good human, or if I had faith in anything substantial. But it was probably a good time for that anyway.