be gentle

Major 2022-09-27 22:17:35

Wild Strawberry tells the story of an aging medical professor, Isaac, on the way to his alma mater to receive an honorary degree, recalling his heavy past and starting a journey of spiritual redemption. The film won the Golden Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.

The first time I learned about Wild Strawberries, a 1957 black-and-white literary film, came from Yu Hua's "We Live in a Huge Gap". At that time, he saw the film "Wild Strawberries" directed by Ingmar Bergman for the first time at a friend's house and was deeply shocked. After watching the movie, he walked more than 30 kilometers back to his residence, "Because only in this way can I calm down, I finally lived to see the first movie after I was 27 years old, and it was not a movie before." Wild Strawberry has important enlightenment significance for his literary creation. Thinking about it carefully, there are things like this in everyone's life, and some things will appear in the dark, bringing us some thinking and healing at the right time, so that we can live like wild strawberries, which belongs to life. That loneliness can also redeem the life in a corner.

In the film, the male protagonist Isaac has been a doctor for 50 years. He is nearly 80 years old and is preparing to return to his alma mater to receive an honorary degree in the company of his daughter-in-law Marianne. On the way, Isaac revisited the old place and reminisced about the past. Isaac once had a wonderful first love with his cousin Sarah, but because of his cold and withdrawn personality, his brother took advantage of it. Now Isaac sits on the lawn, remembering the past, and before his eyes comes the beautiful appearance of Sarah in white. His inherent indifferent and rational character is doomed to the failure of marriage. Isaac's wife couldn't stand the cold marriage and sought an affair. This family atmosphere, coupled with her inherited indifference, made Isaac's son reluctant to have children and broke with his daughter-in-law. Isaac received a glorious degree, but he was still immersed in a heavy self-examination of the past. For the old man who was dying, this seemed to be a journey of spiritual redemption.

In a long story, there is life, family, parents' love, own love, and son's love. And the son's unborn child. And the insinuation of the relationship between passers-by A, B, C. Perhaps when I look back on the past in my twilight years, the past events that I have deliberately and selectively forgotten in my heart hurt me, and the memories come back little by little in my young body. Those numb past events that made me feel distressed countless times at that time, the scars were healed and then torn, and then torn after the scars were finally polished by the years. Looking back, although it still hurts, but a little more understanding and forgiveness, to yourself forgiveness. In the face of a partner's derailment, the partner's description of his cold image really needs a lot of strength to get through it.

The ending of the movie is disappointing. The male protagonist believes with conviction and optimism that his parents had the best time for love, and his son was no longer so indifferent and cold, but accepted a new life, a confidence in himself, a message for the future, and a message for others. Hope, instead of being unable to extricate oneself in the unforgettable memory of indifference.

Be a warm person, instead of blindly suppressing and restraining, even if parents and family give more indifference, even if you can only see the appearance of parents cuddling and loving each other in a dream, don't give up love, don't give up on love. The ability of the world to be gentle.

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Extended Reading

Wild Strawberries quotes

  • Marianne Borg: Sleep well?

    Professor Isak Borg: Yes, but recently I've had the weirdest dreams, as if I must tell myself something I won't listen to when I'm awake.

    Marianne Borg: What's that?

    Professor Isak Borg: That I'm dead. Although I'm alive.

  • Professor Isak Borg: Miss Agda, as we have known each other for so many years, don't you think we could call each other Agda and Isak?

    Agda: No, I don't.

    Professor Isak Borg: Why not?

    Agda: Have you brushed your teeth, Professor? No intimacies for me, thank you. It's all right between us as it is.

    Professor Isak Borg: But we are old now.

    Agda: Speak for yourself. A woman is jealous of her reputation. What would people think if we suddenly began to say Agda and Isak? They would make fun of us.

    Professor Isak Borg: Are you always right?

    Agda: Almost always. At our age we should know how to behave. Good night, Professor. I'll leave the door ajar. You know where I am if you need anything.