Dòng suối trinh nữ is among Bergman's most controversial works due to its subject matter, and was not universally praised upon release. In a 1960 review, Bosley Crowther wrote, "Mr. Bergman has stocked it with scenes of brutality that, for sheer unrestrained realism, may leave one sickened and stunned. As much as they may contribute to the forcefulness of the theme, they tend to disturb the senses out of proportion to the dramatic good they do."[3] In the following decades, however, Dòng suối trinh nữ grew in stature. The aggregation site They Shoot Pictures, Don't They has found it to be the 639th most acclaimed film ever made.[4] Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, also reports 94% approval among 16 surveyed critics, with an average rating of 8.1/10.[5]

Dòng suối trinh nữ won the following awards:

• Phim nói tiếng nước ngoài hay nhất 1961
• A Special Mention for Ingmar Bergman in the Liên hoan phim Cannes 1960
• Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film-1961 (tie with La Vérité)
• Kinema Junpo Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Foreign Film Director (Ingmar Bergman)-1962

It was also nominated for the following categories:

• Golden Palm at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival[6]
• Best Costume Design, Black & White- 1961 Academy Awards