Review of Wild Strawberries (2012) by Rafael B — 08 May 2009

A masterful examination of Bergman's perennial themes: death and meaninglessness. As usual, Bergman's film plumbs the depths of existential angst, yet ultimately this film seems to offer hope that a worthy existence can be chosen by the actions and attitudes we choose to take throughout our lives, thus inscribing meaning upon our existence whether god exists or not--he can inscribe essense upon his existence if we want to follow Sartre's line of reasoning.

Indeed, the existenial debating actually boils over into an actual fist fight between an atheist and an aspiring minister over god's existence. As usual, Bergman's direction is beautiful, and his story is genuinely harrowing at times and hilariously beautiful at others.

Ultimately, what distinguishes Wild Strawberries from Bergman's other existential meditations is its exploration of the individual's relation to time. Through dreams and memories, Bergman explores our connection with the past while simultaneously depicting the fundamentally fleeting nature of our existence.