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Winter Light (Swedish: Nattvardsgästerna, literally "The Communicants") is a 1962 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bergman regulars Gunnar Björnstrand, Ingrid Thulin and Max von Sydow. The film follows Tomas Ericsson (Björnstrand), pastor of a small rural Swedish church, as he deals with existential crisis and his Christianity. Bergman cited Winter Light as his favorite among his films. One of Ingmar's most intimate and autobiographical films, it deals harshly with personal elements of the director's life and worldview. Bergman claims that he only... MORE

Winter Light (Swedish: Nattvardsgästerna, literally "The Communicants") is a 1962 Swedish drama film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman and starring Bergman regulars Gunnar Björnstrand, Ingrid Thulin and Max von Sydow. The film follows Tomas Ericsson (Björnstrand), pastor of a small rural Swedish church, as he deals with existential crisis and his Christianity. Bergman cited Winter Light as his favorite among his films. One of Ingmar's most intimate and autobiographical films, it deals harshly with personal elements of the director's life and worldview. Bergman claims that he only "realized who he really was" and came to terms with himself through the making of Winter Light. Vilgot Sjöman's film Ingmar Bergman Makes a Movie was made simultaneously with Winter Light and documents its production. The film opens with the final moments of Tomas's noon service. In attendance are only a handful of people, including fisherman Jonas Persson and his wife Karin (von Sydow and Gunnel Lindblom), and Tomas's ex-mistress, the atheistic Märta (Ingrid Thulin). After the service, Tomas, though coming down with a cold, prepares for his 3 o'clock service in another town. Before he leaves, LESS