Victor Sjöström (1879-1960) was a pioneer and a central figure in Swedish and world cinema, particularly active during the silent era. His Swedish works, such as *Terje Vigen* (1917) and *Körkarlen* (The Phantom Carriage, 1921), are considered masterpieces. The latter, in particular, is renowned for its innovative narrative and visual techniques and its exploration of guilt and redemption.

In the 1920s, he moved to Hollywood, directing successful films such as *He Who Gets Slapped* (1924) with Lon Chaney and the rural drama *The Wind* (1928) with Lillian Gish, where the landscape becomes a protagonist.

His style was characterized by a profound naturalism, the expressive use of Nordic and American landscapes, and a penetrating psychological investigation of characters, often tormented by moral dilemmas or mystical forces. After returning to Sweden, he continued acting, culminating in the starring role in Ingmar Bergman's *Smultronstället* (Wild Strawberries, 1957), whom he mentored. His influence on Bergman and world cinema is immense.