The Virgin Spring (Jungfrukällan) (Jungfrukällan)

THE VIRGIN SPRING

Cinematography by SVEN NYKVIST

Directed by INGMAR BERGMAN

Odin, come!

Odin, come!

Come to my aid.

Heavenly Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, with all your hosts of angels,

guard us this day and always from the devil's snares.

Lord, let not temptation, shame...

nor danger befall thy servants this day.

It's Friday, the day of our Lord's agony.

So help me God,

I nearly stepped on them out there in the dark.

You poor thing...

live out your wretched little life,

the way God allows all of us to live.

Where were you all night?

If you don't care where you sleep,

you could at least come back for the milking.

I had to run around on these poor legs.

Jesus and Mary, you're a sight! What's wrong?

What's wrong? Nothing more than the usual...

that bastards beget bastards.

Serves you right, the way you behave,

spitting and snarling like a wildcat.

You should thank God on your bare knees for his mercy.

To come to a farm like this and stay in this house

like a child of the family.

But you are, and always will be, a savage child.

The milk is still on the porch!

You'll have to ride to church with the candles for the Virgin.

- Me? - Yes.

- Isn't Karin to take them? - Karin's not well today.

She'll sleep through morning mass and then feel just fine.

I think she has a fever. Her skin was so warm.

She certainly burned with fever at the dance last night.

Watch your tongue!

I'm not afraid my daughter will walk in your filthy footsteps.

You two have always been as different as rose and thorn.

You've always pricked others and made them suffer!

You can't help yourself.

We should throw you out, after the mess you've gotten yourself into.

Lord, bless this, our daily bread. Amen.

Where's Karin?

Shouldn't she be leaving for church with the candles?

Karin's not feeling well today.

She didn't seem sick last night. She's fond of sleeping away the morning.

Nevertheless, she's sick now.

She can't suddenly be so sick that she can't ride to church.

Frida will have to take the candles.

You know tradition says a virgin must take the candles.

You're always so concerned with discipline and duty

when it comes to Karin.

And you're always so soft and weak when it comes to her.

She's the only child I have left.

All the more reason to raise her properly.

I had bad dreams last night.

You shouldn't practice such harsh penance at night.

Now send Ingeri to wake Karin.

I'll go myself.

Yes, go and put some life into that loafer.

Ingeri will have to prepare a lunch for her.

Put some cheese in the wheat cakes.

And some mutton too.

Are you sick, Karin?

No, not sick.

Just sleepy.

Can't I have breakfast in bed today?

Father says you're to get up at once and take the candles to church.

No.

If you're not well enough, Frida has to go.

- I'm not sick. - Then you have to go.

Then I want to wear the yellow shift.

My child, it's the middle of the week.

Then I won't go.

You're behaving like a little child.

If I'd used that tone of voice with my parents at your age,

I'd have gotten a good thrashing and nothing to eat.

Then give me a thrashing and nothing to eat.

Give me berries with my bread instead of butter.

You know very well I can't be hard on you, though I ought to be.

You laugh...

but Father's angry...

and one day you'll bring shame down upon me.

Get out my yellow silk shift,

and my Sunday skirt and blue cape.

Then I'll be happy,

and you'll be happy, and Father as well.

Mother, I'll ride to church with such dignity,

and Blackie will raise his hooves gently,

like in a pilgrim's procession.

I'll look neither right nor left but straight ahead,

thinking of the candles and of God's holy mother.

The white stockings too,

and the blue shoes with the pearls.

This is certainly no everyday shift!

Fifteen maidens sewed this.

Calm down!

Was it really 15, all at one time?

Yes.

Come sit down and I'll comb your hair.

No, I'll wear my hair down,

since I have these fine clothes on.

If you always get your way, you'll give the devil such joy

that the saints will punish you with boils and toothaches.

Why are you always talking about the devil?

Father never does.

Because the devil seduces the innocent

and seeks to destroy goodness before it can blossom.

I always say my prayers, Mother.

Who did you dance with last night?

I danced

with him...

him...

and him.

Why do you want to know?

I had such wicked dreams last night.

What did you dream, Mother?

I wish I had dreams too.

Big, wonderful dreams.

But I never do.

Now the skirts, Mother.

The blue one, and the bright one with gold thread.

Pull harder,

or it won't puff out the way it should.

You forgot the necklace.

Leave the necklace for Sunday. This is quite enough already.

You're in my light.

That's your father. Now he's angry.

Sick, are you? Mother said some such thing.

Do I look sick to you?

Pale and frail and ill?

Is this proper, sleeping past sunrise?

Father, when I get to church, I'll kiss Father Erik's hand

and beg forgiveness for not arriving in time for matins.

"Mother was sick," I'll say.

"And Father was sick, and Frida was sick,

so they didn't wake me.

And the candles weren't yet dipped,

and Blackie wasn't yet shod."

I'll ride into the mountains with this naughty girl,

and I'll say...

"I won't have such a daughter.

Imprison her in the mountains for seven years

until she's been tamed.

Then I'll come take her home again...

maybe."

Let Ingeri come too, Father. She never gets away from the farm.

It's a shame it's such a long way to church.

A woman like you no doubt needs a confessional closer at hand.

Says the man who had to flee the country to save his hide.

I know all about you, Professor.

Now, now.

A bird on the wing finds something, while those who sit still find only death.

I've seen both women and churches.

- What were the churches like? - Tall as the sky.

And big.

Not of wood, but of mortar and stone.

With windows in every color of the rainbow.

You get to come too, Ingeri.

Father promised.

Now be on your way, or you won't get there until nightfall.

Hurry up, Ingeri.

Drink some warm ale.

It's a long journey, and you've eaten nothing.

I don't want it. Give it to Ingeri. She's coming along.

- When was that decided? - Father said so just now.

You could at least give me a farewell kiss.

Christ our Lord, bless this young life.

These cheese cakes and candles

are for Father Erik from me.

Give him my best wishes

and tell him they're for "you know what."

And he should say five Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys.

So lovely an apple orchard I know

A maiden with virtues so dear

Her hair like spun gold does flow

Her eyes like the heavens so clear

The streams flow so merrily

All under the verdant trees

In springtime's breeze

The little bird, he soars so high

And rides the wind on his wing

It is such work, such work to fly

And over high mountains to spring

The streams flow so merrily

All under the verdant trees

In springtime's breeze

Does the baby hurt you, Ingeri? What's the matter?

You'll learn for yourself one day.

Then I'll be married, and mistress of my house with honor.

We'll see about your honor

when a man takes your waist or strokes your neck.

No man will get me to bed without marriage.

And if he meets you in the pasture and pulls you down behind a bush?

I'll fight my way free.

But he's stronger than you.

You're too late for matins, you know.

But better to bloom on the road than wither in church.

I'm taking candles to church.