The moment I seen Persona, I fell in love with its bizarre imagery and distributing plot. It was a film about split personalities and (like Roger Ebert said) about cinema as a whole, using various techniques, and even referencing other Bergman films like Through a Glass Darkly. I remember doing work experience in Fopp, and while I was pricing films, I seen the DVD. I was so compelled to get it. It looked like a film that would really hook me. At that moment, I became a Bergman fan, being the easily fanatical person I am.
Now I admit that I haven't watched a ton of his films, but I thoroughly enjoyed Persona, Summer Interlude, Through a Glass Darkly, Cries and Whispers, and what I have seen of Fanny oct Alexander with its dynamic characters and beautiful period setting. Two films of his that I have in my collection are finally getting a look at now. I still have yet to see Seventh Seal at time of writing, but I finally decided to take a gander at one of Bergman's most visceral films, Wild Strawberries. And I think it is the only film that I have seen of his, so far, that matches the quality of Persona. In fact, in many ways, it actually is a better film.
One thing that has always intrigued me about the film was how Bergman used Victor Sjostrom (another legendary filmmaker in Sweden, most notably for his work in the Silent cinema with titles like The Phantom Carriage, and The Wind, which is one of Lillian Gish's most potent works) as the main lead of this film. It's a beautiful marriages of modern and old in one, and that alone sold me on this film.
The story centers on a Professor who is caught up in his dreams and memories, and must confront the regrets and emptiness that was his past. He goes on a trip to a ceremony with his daughter-in-law, who considers him selfish. As he drives there, he finds the old house he grew up in, and reminisces about the days of old. As he journeys through those memories about his family, he finds a woman (played by Bibi Andersonn) and two men who go on the drive with him. It's a joy to see these characters interact, and I think Bergman does a great job of making us feel for some of these troubled characters. It's almost like they find a father figure in Sjostrom, and I just love seeing the way he observes the events happening on screen.
The film walks the line between emotionally involving, and artistically challenging, with close-ups, dream sequences, and memories that intertwine the past and present. One scene that stuck out for me is the one where the Professor's cousin, in the past, places a mirror in front of him, most likely trying to make him face all that guilt once more. The backdrop with the house is beautifully photographed with bright whites, and the mirror creates a surrealistic effect. It is utterly sublime to watch.
To be honest, it was hard to find anything wrong with this film. I think it may be better than Persona because it managed to strike a perfect balance in its storytelling, and it didn't rely on the overuse of bizarre imagery for the sake of being artsy (even though I do enjoy that about Persona). Wild Strawberries is an enticing and artistically stunning experience; one that helps you identify with the concept of old age, and the emotions associated with it. Pretty much an impeccable film if ever there were one.
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