Have you ever had a life altering experience which created a crisis of faith? I have, and these experiences are what might draw you closer to God, or completely tear you away. This is the theme of Ingmar Bergman’s Oscar winning drama, “Virgin Spring,” (1959). The tragic, but touching story is based on a 13th century Swedish Ballad. It’s a story of revenge and redemption during the medieval times, a time when the world was torn between Paganism and Christianity. “Virgin Spring” is a story of a pious man (Max Von Sydow) whose world is turned upside down when his only child is raped and killed.
Herr Tore (Max Von Sydow) is a wealthy farmer married to Mareta (Birgitta Valberg) in Medieval-era Sweden. They have a beautiful teenage daughter, Karin (Birgitta Pettersson). Both parents practice Christianity in the strictest form, but give Karin a little slack. Karin as any teenager, in any era, wants her way and she cajoles her mother into letting her wear her best finery to deliver candles to the family’s church. The ride to the church will take an entire day. Although these are medieval times, as you watch Karin get dressed, and excited about her finery; you forget the time she is living in, and you can’t help to think, “Teenagers have always been teenagers no matter the era.” I thought it to be an interesting insight by Bergman.
On her way to the church she sings, and takes in all that is good and fine, she inhales all of God’s goodness. In all this goodness, and light, darkness creeps in. She is lured by three herdsmen, raped, and then killed. They later seek shelter from the cold at the victim’s farm. The Tore family takes them in, feeds them, and gives them a place to rest. In the film’s most unforgettable moment, one of the rapists offers Karin’s mother the blood stained finery Karin used on the day of her murder, as a payment for their hospitality. Karin’s mom just freezes and steps back as if almost to pass out; you can almost read her thoughts. She quickly tells her husband. Herr’s stern façade disappears and he becomes anguished and confused. He exacts violent revenge on his guest, but that does not give him peace. Herr’s faith in a just and loving God is shaken; his whole world has fallen from under his feet. He feels there is no redemption for Karin or for him until he witnesses a miracle.
The movie will undoubtedly leave an impression on you. The focal point here is Herr, a pious man who did all things right, is shocked both by the tragedy that touched his life, and the sin he had to commit. But in the end learned, that for God there is no sin too great that he cannot forgive, and that sometimes bad things happen to good people, but a just and loving God will hold our hand through it all. Some may say that Tore’s faith was “medieval,” or “simple,” I say, it’s the faith we should all strive for.
