Smultronstället (Wild Strawberries, lit. The Wild Strawberry Patch) is a 1957 film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Victor Sjöström stars as a medical doctor and professor who is forced by nightmares, daydreams, his old age, and his impending death to reevaluate his life on a drive with his daughter-in-law to receive an honorary degree. The film contains many themes and devices which later became known as Bergman's artistic trademarks. The cast includes Bergman regulars Bibi Andersson, Ingrid Thulin and Gunnar Björnstrand. Max von Sydow also appears in a small part.

The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay and is consistently on the list of top 250 movies at IMDb. Many film critics and film scholars consider the film to be one of Bergman's best, despite having been made relatively early in his career.

The Seventh Seal, also considered one of Bergman's best films by many film critics/scholars, was also released in 1957, making it a year of prodigious output for Ingmar Bergman.

Woody Allen's 1997 film Deconstructing Harry is loosely based upon Bergman's Wild Strawberries. Woody Allen is a well-known fan of Bergman's films and many consider Deconstructing Harry as his personal homage to Wild Strawberries.

Ingmar Bergman wrote the screenplay for Wild Strawberries while he was in the hospital.

External links

• Peter Cowie essay at criterionco.com
• In depth review of film

Swedish films | Films directed by Ingmar Bergman | 1957 films

Wilde Erdbeeren | Fresas salvajes | Les Fraises sauvages | Divlje jagode (1957) | Il posto delle fragole | Земляничная поляна (фильм) | Mansikkapaikka | Smultronstället | 野草莓