Ang Lee on Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring

A short interview with Ang Lee about his first, and second, viewing of The Virgin Spring.

[@nowbandnyc]

The Virgin Spring moved me deeply, and this interview moved me all over again. Incredibly powerful.

[@judypolstra]

I'm going to watch it this afternoon...

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

He's so moved just talking about this he almost can not hold back his tears.

[@boomerlady]

Brilliant. Thoughtful. No wonder he is so great.

[@stevenwilliambaylessparks3730]

Clear, sincere, no pretense---a great professor.

[@mckavitt]

I had pretty much the same experience as Mr Lee seeing this film. It slogged me to such an extent that I couldn’t see it for 30 years afterwards, but it stayed w me. I am now attempting to see it again. Hope I make it through. I’m no cinéaste, but a poet, writer & cinema critic & understand this sensitive filmmaker v well. I was never the same after seeing this film. You?

[@stevecox7075]

‘The Virgin Spring’ is a masterpiece.

[@gordonowens7794]

This is the first time I have heard of this movie, after listening to Ang Lee in this interview I can see Bergmans influence in his film "The Ice Storm", a brilliant film.

[@mrjohnnytoobad]

This is absolutely brilliant. The eloquent description he gives is very close to my own memory of seeing The Virgin Spring at the Cornerhouse (Manchester) in the late 80‘s, part of a Bergman matinee ‘Double Bill’ with (I think) Summer with Monika. It's still a favourite 'Top 10’ or Top 20 movie, for many of the very same reasons he gives, and it totally floored me - still remember being numb at the close, leaving the theatre and returning into the daylight. Knowing Ang Lee experienced the same ‘shock and awe’ kinda makes it even more special.

[@sealife12]

I can’t even imagine having the pleasure of seeing Bergman in a theater. I want it.

[@user-mv6he6gl8m]

I'll just say Brokeback mountain. You've honored Mr Bergman in so many ways, thank you!

[@VijetaDahiya]

Felt wonderful to listen to this great film-maker... that too about something so close to his heart.... the passion and authenticity in every word of his... such a great yet so humble film-maker..... thank you so much for posting this....

[@holysith66]

RIP Max von Sydow. You are a virtue and truly, amazing actor.

[@starcrib]

🌿🕊🌿

[@kittran779]

so brilliant, yet humble

[@poetcomic1]

Perhaps not Bergman's 'greatest' film but what a stunningly perfect introduction to serious cinema for a future major director.

[@racine1685]

excellent analysis, convincing point of view, now I understand this extraordinary film much better, thank you Mr. Lee!

[@Funkywallot]

Thank you Mr. Lee for movies like "The Icestorm" and " Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" Movies that opened my eyes to the wonderful world of movie storytelling, since then I purchased the complete Bergman -dvd Box, and what an absolut treat it was for my poor desolate soul that needs cartarsis from time to time And may you be blessed with your vision for what movies should be about

[@greghh2223]

Wow! Ang Lee explained to me why I've been haunted by this movie for most of my life. This also suggests how Lee can make a movie like "The Story of Pi."

[@joenicholls461]

Ang lee rocks

[@mac2phin]

I came here to listen to Mr. Lee because The Virgin Spring is my favorite Bergman film, although I think his best is Persona.

[@abishaipaul2298]

I personally love cries and whispers

[@bibimanberg]

A Genius talking about a a genius

[@notsureiL]

I like how transcendence movies are. As a human you can watch a movie from anywhere. From places you might never hear about and be dragged into the story, relate. We humans aren't as different as we think. Only countries, separate us. I'm going to watch Life of Pi now. Life of have been on my must watch list for ages.

[@Johnconno]

'Dont make me Ang Lee, you won't like me when I'm Ang Lee...' 😊

[@TheAmanaBee]

This is excellent. Thank you.

[@alimarashian1023]

3:38 like "I wish I knew how to quit you" in Brokeback mountain.

[@unforjguventus]

Gran cineasta es Ang Lee, reconociendo al mayor cineasta de la historia, a mi juicio el mejor director junto a Clint Eastwood.

[@danielrmz40]

@@yu-hsinlee6218 wtf ???

[@ellenbarriga451]

I have seen both Last House on the Left versions. But barely watched The Virgin Spring last week. And Lee got it right. Shows how good Bergman was as a director, because it was a moving for more than one reason. And besides, the assaults that did occur, one wouldn't think The Virgin Spring was a horror movie. And as good as the others were depicting how human nature can be, this one had something that the others did lack (quality wise).

[@nobsco3218]

Thanks for sharing!

[@parnilsson8283]

Fantastic.

[@Billy-Box]

Very interesting, thank you.

[@mangalpal8921]

Ingmar was a pure genius

[@awayspa4511]

Did for me too, man

[@tonybennett4159]

It's a great pity that Bergman's stock has fallen in recent years. It's inevitable however, that a new generation will be wowed by his movies and wonder why they hadn't heard of him before.

[@simonboccanegra3811]

I think that's happening now, with Criterion's 2018 set. It was selling out faster than they could supply them. And I thought, well, it's his well-off existing fans upgrading to new transfers, but then I saw so many young people on KZbin, Letterboxd, everywhere discovering these movies, interpreting them, wrestling with them. Greatness does endure, usually, even if it only gets its due cyclically.

[@poetcomic1]

Wes Craven did a horror film remake of The Virgin Spring called 'Last House on the Left'. It is seriously, disgustingly violent and unsettling and probably made more money than the original.

[@victoriajohnson5461]

This movie shows that rape is a crime of violence. I saw it as child .😪

[@zhehaosaw5666]

Now I want to make it plain that the virgin spring must be regarded as aberration. It’s touristic , a lousy imitation of Kurosawa. - Ingmar Bergman , a master praising another master

[@hortenseweinblatt1508]

That's odd. Kurosawa said, "Now I want to make it plain that 'Seven Samurai' must be regarded as an aberration. It’s touristic , a lousy imitation of Bergman."

[@glengustafson6959]

Bergman credited Kurosawa and Tarkovsky credited Bergman and also Kurosawa. The greats could afford to be generous. Or did they become great because of their sincerity as artists. Maybe some readers will take something from that. Visual literacy is important. Good luck.

[@ingvarhallstrom2306]

@@glengustafson6959 They could afford to be generous to the people they admired. Bergman could show quite a nasty pettiness towards people he despised and could hold grudges for decades, especially towards in his eyes lesser filmmakers.

[@starcrib]

🟥♨️My feelings exactly♨️🟥

[@mckavitt]

I had pretty much the same experience as Mr Lee seeing this film. It slogged me to such an extent that I couldn’t see it for 30 years afterwards, but it stayed w me. I am now attempting to see it again. Hope I make it through. I’m no cinéaste, but a poet, writer & cinema critic & understand this sensitive filmmaker v well. I was never the same after seeing this film. You?