Smultronstället
"All along the line, there's nothing but cold and death and loneliness"
Wild Strawberries - Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Var är den vän som jag söker i dagens början? När natten faller har jag ännu inte funnit Honom.
— Isak Borg (reciting a poem)
Context:
Isak recites this poem with the help of the young hitchhikers during a stop on their journey. The moment highlights the contrast between his somber introspection and their youthful vitality.
Meaning:
"Where is the friend I seek at break of day? When night falls I still have not found Him." This quote encapsulates Isak's profound sense of loneliness and his lifelong, unfulfilled search for connection and meaning. It has religious undertones, suggesting a search for God or a higher purpose, but also speaks to his personal isolation.
En läkares första plikt är att be om förlåtelse.
— Sten Alman (as the examiner in a dream)
Context:
This line is spoken during Isak's second nightmare, where he is subjected to a surreal examination. He is found guilty of "guilt," and this statement is presented as a fundamental principle he has failed to grasp.
Meaning:
"A doctor's first duty is to ask for forgiveness." In the surreal logic of the dream, this line transcends its literal meaning. It suggests that Isak, a man of science who has healed physical ailments, has neglected the emotional and spiritual well-being of himself and others. He is being judged not for his professional competence but for his human failings.
Jag är död, fast jag lever.
— Evald Borg
Context:
Evald says this to Marianne in a flashback she recounts to Isak. He is explaining his refusal to have a child, expressing his bleak and nihilistic view of life.
Meaning:
"I am dead, although I live." This powerful statement from Isak's son, Evald, reveals the depth of his despair and emotional numbness. It also directly reflects Isak's own state of being a "living corpse," highlighting the painful legacy of emotional coldness passed from father to son.
Om jag har varit bekymrad eller ledsen under dagen, så roar det mig ofta att framkalla minnesbilder från min barndom.
— Isak Borg
Context:
These are Isak's final thoughts as he peacefully drifts off to sleep at the end of the film, dreaming of a happy childhood memory of his parents by a lake.
Meaning:
"If I have been worried or sad during the day, I am often calmed by recalling memories of my childhood." This closing line of the film reveals Isak's ultimate reconciliation with his past. He is no longer haunted by his memories but can now find comfort and peace in them. It signifies his final acceptance and the serenity he has achieved through his journey.