1. Winter Light (1963)
In a cold and bleak Swedish winter in the countryside, a minister called Tomas Ericsson must cater to his dwindling congregation whilst dealing with his own doubts about God and the tremendous bitterness he feels at his late wife's premature death. Jonas, one of his parishioners is suffering a crisis of faith due to his fear over nuclear weapons and ensuing nuclear war. Tomas, lacking faith, finds it impossible to give him words of comfort. Jonas commits suicide. Märta, an attractive school teacher, is in love with Tomas but he rejects her love even though they are a good match. The film ends with a theological debate about the Passion. Unlike the Seventh Seal, Bergman was pleased with Winter Light, it may even have been his favourite film that he ever made. It is a fascinating and absorbing film. Not much action takes place, but this is a movie where you can marvel at the characterisation of the protagonists and you can also appreciate the dialogue. Never has a loss of faith been rendered so successfully on the screen. Visually stunning due to Sven Nyvkist's cinematography which captures the snowy landscape beautifully. At the end of the film, Tomas conducts a church sermon to a non existent flock - apart from Märta. Is that a tiny window of hope? Solemn to its very marrow but equally profound, Winter Light may challenge your assumptions about God and your relationship to him (if you have one).