Saw this a long time ago, and this time around only Bergman's prowess with the camera via Sven Nykvist worked for me. The heavy Christian bubble business at the end, the virgin spring, after the 'God, I don't know you', and then a quick 'I'm sorry; I'll build a church here' and THEN the gurgling spring begins to gurgle. All that's left is for his raped daughter's eyes to begin fluttering. Yikes, he should have faded out with one of those small town Mexican processions, or some clips, as the spring breaks loose, from a Lourdes ad with Jennifer Jones.
As I understand it, Bergman wanted to excise the "spring" footage; too bad he didn't get his way.
As I understand it, Bergman wanted to excise the "spring" footage; too bad he didn't get his way.