---
title: "Wild Strawberries: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries"
critics_score: 86
critics_reviews: 8
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Wild Strawberries (1957): what the critics said

Critics' score 86 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

The consensus on Wild Strawberries is warmly positive, with all eight reviews finding much to admire in Bergman’s account of an elderly professor reckoning with his life. Praise centres on Victor Sjöström’s sensitive performance, particularly his handling of nostalgia, dread and regret without losing the character’s humanity. The reviews also stress Bergman’s empathy towards Borg’s isolation. Careful composition and graceful shifts between melancholy and gaiety support a film repeatedly described as warm, moving and accessible.

The differences are chiefly matters of degree, with no outright dissent and reservations confined to particular choices. Total Film finds some of the symbolism overdone, while still admiring the complexity of the character portrait. Empire offers the most qualified response, finding that parts creak but praising the evocation of old age. Neither reservation substantially weakens the shared appreciation of Sjöström’s performance.

## Radio Times — David Parkinson

Rating ★★★★★. 

Parkinson calls it Bergman’s warmest and most accessible film. He particularly praises Victor Sjöström’s magisterial performance as the professor.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-gg0nw2/wild-strawberries/)

## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen

Rating 5/5. 8 June 2013. 

Bowen praises the film’s emotional depth and its humane, moving conclusion. He singles out Bergman’s empathy and the film’s precise portrayal of Borg’s struggle to escape his self-imposed isolation.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/wild-strawberries/)

## IndieWire — Max O'Connell

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 August 2014. 

O’Connell presents the film as a warm, modest reflection on a man reckoning with his life. He praises the balance between Bergman’s introspection and Sjöström’s nuanced, bittersweet portrayal of Borg.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/criticwire-classic-of-the-week-ingmar-bergmans-wild-strawberries-126136/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

Bradshaw finds the film deeply satisfying and praises its careful composition. He singles out its graceful shifts between melancholy and gaiety.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/79108/wild-strawberries)

## Time Out — GA

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The review presents the film as one of Bergman’s warmest and finest. It singles out the emotional warmth of an elderly academic’s journey.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wild-strawberries)

## Los Angeles Times — Andy Klein

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 June 2013. 

Klein treats the film as an enduring Bergman classic, with a chilling nightmare scene standing out. He also praises the Criterion Blu-ray’s excellent commentary and top-notch extras.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/socal/glendale-news-press/entertainment/tn-gnp-et-dvd-review-wild-strawberries-top-notch-extras-with-an-iconic-film-20130614-story.html)

## Total Film — Total Film

Rating 4/5. 1 January 2003. 

The review warmly praises Bergman’s reflective road movie as a moving, complex character portrait. It singles out Victor Sjöström’s majestic performance and the haunting, humane closing shots, while noting that some symbolism feels overdone.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/wild-strawberries-review/)

## Empire — David Parkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

Parkinson finds that the film creaks in places but remains unsurpassed in its evocation of old age’s nostalgia, dread and regret. He particularly praises Victor Sjöström’s sensitive performance.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wild-strawberries-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wild-strawberries.md