Review of The Virgin Spring (1960) by Darryl J — 24 May 2008
I went into this film knowing nothing about which I advise you to also do.
It's so strange to think that Berman did this movie after The Seventh Seal. This one is so much more hopeful than the former. Maybe it's not meant to be personal though like some of his other films. Maybe it is. We'll never know. I accept it as a tremendous study of religion and redemption.
Max Von Sydow is becoming one of my favorite actors. I was so impressed with him in The Seventh Seal and now this. He has such a distinctive face that can convey such genuine emotion on the drop of a dime.
No director has ever dealt with religion as well as Bergman. He never missteps. The directing is phenomenal in this. There is a shot in this movie that deserves to be one of those "iconic" images of cinema if it already isn't. The cinematography was also excellent. He really just hits the nail on the head with the depiction of medieval society. Another aspect of this movie that I liked is it's refusal to use music. It gives it such an eerie and real feeling. It's especially effective during a certain scene that is one of the hardest I've ever had to watch.
This review of The Virgin Spring (1960) was written by Darryl J on 24 May 2008.
The Virgin Spring has generally received very positive reviews.
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