Wild Strawberries
An emotionally secluded professor confronts the memories, relationships, and mortality he has spent a lifetime avoiding during a day-long journey across Sweden.
Overview
A journey through memory reveals the complexities of life and the human condition.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- contemplative
- intimate
- quiet evening
- reflective weekend
What critics said
Critics broadly regard Bergman's beautifully written and photographed meditation on memory, aging, mortality, and self-knowledge as a major work of European art cinema, anchored by exceptional performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Isak's drive from Stockholm to Lund triggers recollections of his childhood, family, lost love, and former self.
The opening nightmare features a deserted street, a broken hearse, an exposed coffin, and Isak confronting his own apparent death.
Isak's cold demeanor has driven others away, and his encounters reveal how his detachment has shaped his marriages and family relationships.
The hitchhikers, bickering couple, Marianne, Evald, and Isak's mother reflect different versions of his failures and attachments.
Films like Wild Strawberries, and why
The Seventh Seal
shared reflective drama, aging protagonist, memory, mortality, and emotionally searching road journey
Autumn Sonata
shared Bergmanesque psychological drama, family estrangement, recollection, and austere black-and-white imagery
8½
shared contemplative European drama centered on regret, self-knowledge, and the passage of time
Movie Details
- Director
- Ingmar Bergman
- Release Date
- 1957-08-28
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 8.1 / 10 (1866)
Cast
- Victor Sjöström
- Bibi Andersson
- Ingrid Thulin
- Gunnar Björnstrand
- Jullan Kindahl
- Folke Sundquist
- Björn Bjelfvenstam
- Naima Wifstrand
- Gunnel Broström
- Gertrud Fridh
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wild Strawberries about?
- An emotionally secluded professor confronts the memories, relationships, and mortality he has spent a lifetime avoiding during a day-long journey across Sweden.
- What is Wild Strawberries like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wild Strawberries as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Wild Strawberries violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Wild Strawberries as mild.
- What did critics think of Wild Strawberries?
- Critics broadly regard Bergman's beautifully written and photographed meditation on memory, aging, mortality, and self-knowledge as a major work of European art cinema, anchored by exceptional performances.
- Which films are like Wild Strawberries?
- Films with a similar feel include The Seventh Seal, Autumn Sonata, and 8½.
- How long is Wild Strawberries?
- Wild Strawberries runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wild Strawberries?
- In United States, Wild Strawberries streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max.
