10. Winter Light (1963)
Tomas is a pastor at a small Swedish church. The film opens with his noon service - only a small handful of people are in attendance - fisherman Jonas Persson and his wife Karin. His ex mistress Marta who is an atheist. Afterwards, Tomas gets ready for another service in another town at 3pm. Before he leaves, he is approached by the Perssons. Jonas is worrying about global nuclear war. Then Marta visits him to ask if he read her letter. He hasn't and he is bitterly depressed about his inability to soothe Jonas. Marta tries to comfort him but then claims she loves him but it is not reciprocal. The content of Marta's letter is harsh. She accuses Tomas of neglecting her - particularly after she had a rash that he was repulsed by. He falls asleep after reading the letter but is woken by the anguished Jonas. He tells Jonas that he doesn't believe in God - that when he was in the Spanish Civil War, he couldn't reconcile the atrocities being committed with his view of a loving God. He looks at a crucifix and declares himself free of God. Marta is happy at this development as it suits her atheist beliefs and she is very affectionate towards Tomas - affection that he does not pay attention to. The news of Jonas' suicide reaches them and Tomas does his pastorly duties. He goes back to Marta's place and finally lets rip - telling Marta that he was sick of the gossip about them, the constant talking and she will never match up to the standard of his dead wife. Despite this animosity between them, they both go to Jonas' house to inform Karin of his death. She collapses and Tomas says he will help her out - but this is a perfunctory offer. The pair arrive at the church at 3pm. No one is there but Algot the sexton and Fredrik the organist. Fredrik tells Marta to leave Tomas and the town - to live out her dreams. Meanwhile the sexton is asking Tomas questions about the Passion - he believes the betrayal of Jesus by his disciples is much worse than his physical suffering on the cross - as this was much briefer. The film ends with Tomas starting the service, he is asked why as no one is there but he replies that there is someone - Marta. Winter Light is said to be the film that Ingmar Bergman was proudest of, his most personal piece - the one that resonated with him the most. He certainly made good use of the film - there is not a frame wasted. I didn't take the film as being a comment on Christianity or religion. I saw it as a portrait of depression and the terrible effect it has on people. Losing his faith is only incidental to the profound misery Tomas feels. It is also a film about the inability of people to soothe themselves or soothe each other (Jonas' suicide) due to emotional disconnection. Winter Light is definitely up there with the grimmest films in Bergman's canon and may only interest Bergman devotees due to its thorough bleakness.