The Virgin Spring
| The Virgin Spring | |
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Original poster
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| Directed by | Ingmar Bergman |
| Produced by | Ingmar Bergman Allan Ekelund |
| Written by | Ulla Isaksson |
| Starring |
Max von Sydow Birgitta Valberg Gunnel Lindblom Birgitta Pettersson |
| Music by | Erik Nordgren |
| Cinematography | Sven Nykvist |
| Edited by | Oscar Rosander |
| Distributed by | Janus Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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89 minutes |
| Country | Sweden |
| Language | Swedish |
| Box office | $700,000 (USA) |
The Virgin Spring (Swedish: Jungfrukällan) is a 1960 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set in medieval Sweden, it is a rape and revenge tale about a father's merciless response to the rape and murder of his young daughter. The story was adapted by screenwriter Ulla Isaksson from a 13th-century Swedish ballad, "Töres döttrar i Wänge" ("Töre's daughters in Vänge"). The film contains a number of themes that question morals, vengeance and religious beliefs.
The film won for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1961 Academy Awards and other honours. It was also the basis for the 1972 exploitation horror film The Last House on the Left.
In medieval Sweden, prosperous Christian Per Töre sends his daughter, Karin, to take candles to the church. Karin is accompanied by her pregnant servant Ingeri, who secretly worships the Norse deity Odin. Along their way through the forest on horseback, Ingeri becomes frightened when they come to a stream-side mill and the two part and Karin sets out on her own.
Ingeri encounters a one-eyed man at the stream-side mill. When Ingeri asks about his name he enigmatically responds he has none "in these days". The man tells Ingeri that he can see and hear things others can not. When the man makes sexual advances towards her and promises her power, Ingeri flees in terror. Meanwhile, Karin meets three herdsmen, two men and a boy, and invites them to eat her lunch with her. Eventually, the two older men rape and murder Karin while Ingeri watches, hidden, from a distance. The two older men then leave the scene with Karin's clothing. The younger boy is left with the body and to watch the goats, but he takes the situation poorly and quickly becomes sick with guilt.
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