The Virgin Spring
A stark, medieval ballad of faith tested by brutality, where vengeance carves a wound in the earth from which a miracle of grace springs forth.
The Virgin Spring
The Virgin Spring

Jungfrukällan

"Ravished innocence... brings terrible revenge!"

08 February 1960 Sweden 90 min ⭐ 7.8 (644)
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Cast: Max von Sydow, Birgitta Valberg, Gunnel Lindblom, Birgitta Pettersson, Axel Düberg
Drama History
Faith vs. Doubt Revenge vs. Forgiveness Paganism vs. Christianity Loss of Innocence
Box Office: $700,000

The Virgin Spring - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Du ser det, Gud. Du ser det. Den oskyldiga barnets död och min hämnd. Du tillät det. Jag förstår dig inte. Ändå ber jag dig nu om förlåtelse. Jag vet inget annat sätt att försonas med mina egna händer. Jag vet inget annat sätt att leva.

— Töre

Context:

After finding Karin's body in the forest, Töre collapses in grief. He looks to the sky and speaks these words directly to God, confessing to the revenge he has just taken on the murderers. It is a moment of complete spiritual and emotional breakdown, immediately preceding his vow to build a church on the spot.

Meaning:

This is the film's central monologue, encapsulating the core theme of faith versus doubt. Töre directly confronts God, acknowledging His omniscience but questioning His inaction and incomprehensible will. It's not a rejection of God, but a raw, painful confession of a shattered faith that he nonetheless chooses to cling to, as it's the only way he knows how to live. His vow to build a church is a desperate act of penance born from this crisis.