Wild Strawberries (1957)

In the twilight of his existence, the 78-year-old widower, Dr. Isak Borg, a retired medical doctor and professor, inhabits a world of solitude. His only company is his elderly housekeeper, Miss Agda, who serves as an almost platonic wife in his cold, walled-off existence. His cool demeanor has alienated those around him, leaving him in a self-imposed exile. Embarking on a journey from Stockholm to Lund to receive an honorary degree, he shuns the idea of flying, choosing instead the introspective solitude of a day-long drive. His only companion on this journey is his daughter-in-law, Marianne, whose stay with him was a temporary hiatus from her strained marriage to Isak's son, Evald. The journey unfolds like a tapestry of memory and introspection, with numerous stops and encounters triggering a stroll down the labyrinthine corridors of his life. He finds himself stepping into the shadows of his past at his childhood summer home, where wild strawberries grow - a poignant reminder of a time when his heart wasn't as frosty. He also confronts his own reflection in the emotionally icy demeanor of his mother during a stop at her home. Along the way, they offer rides to a motley crew of characters whose lives eerily echo his own. Among them are Sara, Viktor, and Anders, who conjure up memories of his own cousin Sara, the woman he once intended to marry, until his feckless brother Sigfrid claimed her. The Sara of his past is juxtaposed with the Sara of the present, creating a haunting parallel. They also encounter the quarrelsome married couple Sten and Berit Alman, a mirror image of Marianne and Evald's troubled marriage. As the journey progresses, the lines between reality and dream blur, giving life to Borg's disturbing dreams and melancholic reminiscences. Each encounter, every memory, forces him to confront the choices that have shaped his life. The journey to Lund becomes less about the honorary degree and more a journey into the heart of a man wrestling with his past, his decisions, and ultimately, his own humanity.

Wild Strawberries is a drama movie featuring Victor Sjöström.

Wild Strawberries is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy and it's also available on Criterion Channel and Max Amazon Channel.

It is also possible to buy Wild Strawberries on Amazon Video and Apple TV.