Winter Light takes place one stark afternoon in a Swedish village where Tomas Ericsson, (Gunnar Björnstrand), a widowed pastor, struggles to preside over his dwindling congregation. Enduring his own crisis of spirituality, Ericsson is unable to offer solace to a local fisherman (Max von Sydow) suffering a debilitating fear of nuclear attack.  After reading a beseeching letter from a local schoolteacher (Ingrid Thulin) he has been involved with – delivered in the form of a staggering 6-minute direct to-camera address – he shuns her advances only to find comfort later in the performance of rituals that have become nothing more than routine.

Notes by David O’Mahony.

This film screens as part of BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL: THE FILMS OF INGMAR BERGMAN.

See the full collection of films on IFI@Home, launching February 1st.