Wild strawberries!


In one of the first scenes that Marie and Henrik are together, she takes him to eat wild strawberries, as most of you will know this is also the title of one of Bergman;s most popular films. I remember a similar reference to the actual food being made in another of his earlier films, but I can;t remember which one. However, it;s obviously really a recurring theme for him, and the way I see it is that the wild strawberries represent earthly happiness - a kind of talent for happiness, a "simple" way of life as opposed to the brooding and fear that Henrik carries with him. It just reminds me so much of the message all of Bergman;s films convey, that we are able to give meaning to our own lives and that happiness is ours if we want it, and that always helps me so much. So I thought it was kinda cool to see the wild strawberries reference made here as well - completely unintentially, ofcourse, unless he already had the film Wild Strawberries in mind when he made this, but that is pretty unlikely :) I guess that wild strawberries are traditionally a delicacy in Sweden, and one that represents luxury, a carefree way of life, something like that.

God, I just loved this film as well as all his other ones I;ve seen. He really is my favourite director, no doubt. His films really form a whole complete body of work, with all the recurring themes. It;s like he was constantly finding new ways to say the same thing, everytime from a different angle, and with different emphasis. I guss it's unavoidable if you're a really great artist, because if you are you put your soul into everything you make, so that everytime the same things will reappear. For instance, theatre is present in every single movie I have seen by Bergman! He once said that theatre was his wife, and the movies were his mistress. It;s so wonderful to see him being faithful to his "wife" the theatre in every film I;ve yet seen of him. Smiles of a summernight, Fanny & Alexander, Summer interlude, Scenes from a marriage, The seventh seal... I love the way he represents theatre, as a metaphor for life, or as a mirror, or in any way a means to understand and live the actual life. He portrays actors (or, in this case, dancers) as the people we most strongly identify with, as heroes so to speak. Then there is the struggle against oppression and the fight to choose our own destiny. And the question of whether there is a some sort of meaning out there, like a god, or just plain nothing. All of these, in one way or another, can be found in any of his films. Love, or more specifically: the institute of marriage, is also a recurring theme, and in this respect it is interesting to note that his female characters are quite often the most gentle and intelligent and the strongest. He;s just amazing...

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Wild strawberries... Smultronstället. I love the way it sounds in Swedish.

I always enjoy the aspects Bergman shows when he brings the reason for his living into his movies, art, acting, (the family of) actors (very much so), and the theatre.

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Bergman was on the money for coming from that post war society where the youth wanted sexual freedom and all that and being slightly exotic for being Swedish, he dramatised what many were thinking.

Ever see that short film 'The Dove'...an ironic spoof of his motifs and themes?


















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