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Wild Strawberries

Late, late last night, on the Turner Classic Movie channel, one of my very favorite foreign films was shown. Its Swedish title is "Smultronstallet", but in the English subtitled version, it is refered to as "Wild Strawberries". A basic synopsis (from IMBd) is:

This film explores the disillusionment of an elderly professor and physician, Professor Isak Borg, as he reflects upon his life and begins to perceive his mortality. In the film, he travels to Lund to receive an honorary award after 50 years of teaching, research and practice. On his journey, he finds himself repeatedly affected by intrusive dreams and hallucinations that expose his darkest fears. He slowly comes to realize that the choices he made in the past have created a cold and empty life, devoid of real meaning or value. He struggles to achieve redemption and reintegration through forgiveness and the love of his family.

This film was made in 1957 and is an amazing piece of art by the incredible director Ingmar Bergman. When I first saw this film, decades ago while in graduate school, it made me weep in despair because of its utter meloncholy, saddness, and spot-on portrayal of the hopelessness we can feel about our existance. Last night, while watching the film again, my emotions roiled full force in me and I again sat and sobbed about the story, the beauty of the film, the truths it revealed. If you can rent this film or watch it, please do so. It may be sad, but it is also so very, very vital and vivid in allowing us a glimpse into our very own souls.

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