The bridge keeper played by Axel Slangus clearly is supposed to be Odin. Beside his comments about recognizing Ingeri as if they have met before (suggesting he heard her prayer at the beginning of the film), there are several nods to Odinic lore. Before the bridge keeper appears, a raven is seated outside his hut. The raven was considered to be sacred to Odin. When the bridge keeper is finally shown up close, it can be seen that he is one-eyed, which is Odin's most prominent feature, having sacrificed an eye to attain wisdom. Finally, when Ingeri sits in the high-seat, she suddenly has seemingly clairvoyant hearing. This is a nod to Odin's high-seat Hlidskjalf, from which he could see all things happening in the world.
Received the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film 1960.
The script is based on the medieval Swedish ballad "Per Tyrssons döttrar i Vänge".
Max von Sydow is only ten years older than Birgitta Pettersson, who plays his daughter in this movie.