Wild Strawberries
After living a life marked by coldness, an aging professor is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.
Directed by Ingmar Bergman · Drama · Romance · 92 min · 1959
Trailer
Director
Ingmar Bergman
Writer
Ingmar Bergman
Studio
distributor = AB Svensk Filmindustri
Release
22 Jun 1959
Runtime
92 min
Genres
Drama, Romance
Full Plot
With the exception of his elderly housekeeper Miss Agda who he treats almost like a surrogate platonic wife, widowed seventy-eight year old Dr. Isak Borg, a former medical doctor and professor, has retreated from any human contact, partly his own want but partly the decision of others who do not want to spend time with him because of his cold demeanor. He is traveling from his home in Stockholm to Lund to accept an honorary degree. Instead of flying as was the original plan, he decides to take the day long drive instead. Along for the ride is his daughter-in-law Marianne, who had been staying with him for the month but has now decided to go home. The many stops and encounters along the way make him reminisce about various parts of his life. Those stops which make him reminisce directly are at his childhood summer home, at the home of his equally emotionally cold mother, and at a gas station where the attendants praise him as a man for his work. But the lives of other people they encounter almost mirror his own, including hitchhikers Sara, Viktor and Anders - who remind him of his cousin Sara who he was going to marry, himself and his irresponsible brother Sigfrid who Sara eventually married - a bickering married couple Sten and Berit Alman, and Marianne and her husband and Isak's son Evald, whose marriage is as strained as was his own.
Cast & Characters
Professor Isak Borg
Victor Sjöström
Sara (both: Isak's cousin/hitchhiker)
Bibi Andersson
Marianne Borg
Ingrid Thulin
Evald Borg
Gunnar Björnstrand
Agda, Isak's housekeeper
Jullan Kindahl
Anders, hitchhiker
Folke Sundquist
Viktor, hitchhiker
Björn Bjelfvenstam
Isak's Mother
Naima Wifstrand
Berit Alman, angry wife
Gunnel Broström
Sten Alman, angry husband / The Examiner
Gunnar Sjöberg
Henrik Åkerman, gas station attendant
Max von Sydow
Did You Know?
Ingmar Bergman has directed 3 films in our catalog, including The Seventh Seal, Autumn Sonata.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that Ingmar Bergman's idea for the film originated on a drive from Stockholm to Dalarna, where he suddenly imagined his childhood home.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that Bergman wrote the screenplay of Wild Strawberries in Stockholm's Karolinska Hospital while being treated for gastric problems and stress.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that Victor Sjöström was initially hesitant to play the leading role, but was persuaded by producer Carl Anders Dymling with promises of a relatively easy part.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Wild Strawberries holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (122,286 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.1/10 on IMDb (122,286 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wild Strawberries's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Wild Strawberries holds a 94% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Wild Strawberries's IMDb rating?+
Wild Strawberries has a 8.1/10 rating on IMDb from 122,286 votes.
What is Wild Strawberries's Metacritic score?+
Wild Strawberries has a Metascore of 88/100 on Metacritic.
Is Wild Strawberries good? What are critics saying?+
Wild Strawberries holds 8.1/10 on IMDb (122,286 votes), 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 88/100 on Metacritic.
How long is Wild Strawberries?+
Wild Strawberries has a runtime of 92 min.
Who directed Wild Strawberries?+
Wild Strawberries was directed by Ingmar Bergman.
Where can I watch Wild Strawberries?+
Wild Strawberries is available to stream, rent, or buy on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, BFI Player, BFI Player Amazon Channel, BFI Player Apple TV Channel.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Wild Strawberries" is overwhelmingly positive. Reviewers praise the film's thoughtful exploration of life's meaning, its strong performances from Ingrid Thulin and Victor Sjöström, and its unique cinematography. Many also comment on the movie's profound impact on their lives.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
Bergman talks about the meaning of life and the pass of time. Great cast, that will repeat in several of Bergman's movies and remarkable performances from Ingrid Thulin and Victor Sjöström.
Andres Gomez · 8/10There's a great scene near the start of this film that sees an horse-drawn hearse get it's wheel caught between the kerb and a lamp-post. The horses persist in moving forward, the wheel comes off and we have a coffin exposed in the middle of a deserted street. A passer-by approac…
CinemaSerf · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
This movie made me rethink my life, when a movie does that you know you have found a Masterpiece.
@camiloordonez4906 · 140 likes5460 reasons, one for each second of this masterpiece.
@darwinia55 · 71 likesOne of the greatest films ever made. There has never been more genuineness in cinema than in the scene where Ingrid Thulin tells her husband of her pregnancy. It does not try to be special but it ends up being one of the greatest films simply due to its humaneness and Bergman's c…
@Ragify7 · 139 likesI first saw this film when I was in my twenties. It was a profound experience and has been my favorite ever since. Now that I am nearly as old as Isak Borg, I believe it is the greatest film ever made!
@fredericwild734 · 201 likes“You’re a coward!” “Yes. This life sickens me.” ... Why does that make so much sense ?
@00oa4 · 149 likesI’ve always wanted to have a double feature of this and Ikiru as films by master filmmakers about what it means to live, age, and die
@leobergmiller873 · 37 likesSo many great actors and directors from the early days of cinema died without getting any recognition, often times penniless and broke. It's nice that Sjöström got to end his career, and life, on such a high note. I love the dream sequence with the carriage, it's a wonderful alle…
@SukkaPunch321 · 73 likesThe music at the beginning is so beautiful.
@pollitttyler · 46 likes
