The picture is set in Sweden , during the Dark Ages , 14th-century . This the story about a young naive virgin named Karin (Petterson) who's sent by her parents (Max Von Sidow and Birgitta Valverg )towards a church to hand over candles for the holy Virgin . She's accompanied by Inger (Gunner Lindblon) , a pregnant and envious young . They meet a group of peasants and the young virgin is cruelly raped (whose images in some countries were rated ¨R¨). Later on , the killers ask for help and shelter from the parents .

The movie displays haunting and powerful scenes , it's plenty of images which stay forever in mind . Although it is sometimes slow moving ; however , the thoughtful screenplay is narrated with intelligence and sensitivity but here are developed ethic and moral issues just like death , God , religion and vengeance . The movie realizes an excellent reunion of Swedish actors with usual Bergman's players (Sidow and Lindblon , among others), showing the different characters and exploring their apprehensions , ambitions , fears and circumstances . Glimmer and riveting cinematography by Sven Nykvist (he won an Oscar for Fanny and Alexander) , he's deemed by many to be one of the world's greatest cameramen , he achieved give the movies on the most natural and simplest look imaginable , he replaced Gunner Fischer (The seventh seal) as Bergman's cinematographer . He continued an American career working for Louis Malle (Pretty baby) ,Bob Fosse (Star 80) ,Philipp Kauffman (The unbearable lightness of being) and Woody Allen (Another woman , Crimen and misdemeanors). ¨The Virgin spring¨ was wonderfully directed by Bergman , it's a real masterpiece who made his major impact gaining international acclaim and winning an Oscar to the best foreign film and a Gloden Globe . His realization was during his impressive golden period from 1957-1968 , when Bergman (recently deceased) made stunning masterpieces : The seventh seal , Persona , The communicants , The silence , Hour of Wolf . Rating : Magnificent , but it is considered by many (along with The seventh seal) to be the Bergman's best . And please to forget the horrible and ¨Sui generis¨ version made by Wes Craven titled ¨The last house on the left¨ .