Winter Light (1963) Nattvardsgästerna (original title)

Director:

Ingmar Bergman

Writer:

Ingmar Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

11 February 1963 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

On a cold winter's Sunday, the pastor of a small rural church (Tomas Ericsson) performs service for...

Plot Keywords:

Faith | Pastor | Winter | Suicide | Priest

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ingrid Thulin	...	Märta Lundberg, Schoolteacher
Gunnar Björnstrand	...	Tomas Ericsson, Pastor
Gunnel Lindblom	...	Karin Persson
Max von Sydow	...	Jonas Persson
Allan Edwall	...	Algot Frövik, Sexton
Kolbjörn Knudsen	...	Knut Aronsson, Warden
Olof Thunberg	...	Fredrik Blom, Organist
Elsa Ebbesen	...	Magdalena Ledfors, Widow
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lars-Olof Andersson	...	Young boy (uncredited)
Eddie Axberg	...	Johan Strand, Schoolboy (uncredited)
Tor Borong	...	Johan Åkerblom, Homesteader (uncredited)
Lars-Owe Carlberg	...	Parish Constable (uncredited)
Ingmari Hjort	...	Persson's daughter (uncredited)
Stefan Larsson	...	Persson's son (uncredited)
Johan Olafs	...	Gentleman with Horse (uncredited)
Bertha Sånnell	...	Hanna Appelblad, Baker with Daughter (uncredited)
Christer Öhman	...	Young boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Ingmar Bergman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ingmar Bergman		writer

Produced by
Allan Ekelund	....	producer

Cinematography by
Sven Nykvist

Film Editing by
Ulla Ryghe

Production Design by
P.A. Lundgren

Costume Design by
Mago

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Lenn Hjortzberg	....	assistant director

Art Department
Karl-Arne Bergman	....	props

Sound Department
Evald Andersson	....	sound effects
Stig Flodin	....	sound
Brian Wikström	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Rolf Holmquist	....	assistant camera
Peter Wester	....	assistant camera
Gerhard Carlsson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Other crew
Lars-Owe Carlberg	....	location manager
Katinka Faragó	....	continuity clerk
Börje Lundh	....	mask

Production Companies

• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Distributors

• Filmipaja (1963) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Janus Films (1963) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• Tartan Video (1993) (UK) (VHS) (subtitled)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Home Vision Entertainment (HVE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Moskwood Media (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Gutek Film (2007) (Poland) (all media)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

"Nattvardsgästerna" - Sweden (original title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Dalarnas län, Sweden

Company:

Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Trivia:

When she saw the completed film, Ingmar Bergman's then wife Kabi Laretei said, "Yes, Ingmar, it's a masterpiece. But it's a dreary masterpiece."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tomas leaves the church to go to the scene of the suicide there is a lot of snow on his car and on the ground. But, when he arrives at the scene, the car is clean and there is no sign of snow on the ground.

Quotes:

Algot Frövik, Sexton:The passion of Christ, his suffering... Wouldn't you say the focus on his suffering is all wrong?
Tomas Ericsson, Pastor:What do you mean?
Algot Frövik, Sexton:This emphasis on physical pain. It couldn't have been all that bad. It may sound presumptuous of me - but in my humble way, I've suffered as much physical pain as Jesus. And his torments were rather brief. Lasting some four hours, I gather? I feel that he was tormented far worse on an other level...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work (1998) (TV)

The closest thing to a perfect film I've ever seen

It's a real shame that you are unlikely to find this movie in your local video rental store. It's relentlessly concentrated, uncompromising and beautiful. It's paced slowly at the beginning, drawing the viewer in, but repays the effort you put in (and it's pretty short).

The story focuses on a disillusioned priest in a remote village who is unable to accept the love offered him by Marta, his friend, and unable to offer the conviction of his faith to save a fisherman from suicide. There are several hidden references to the crucifixion: the time covered in the movie (noon to 3 pm) is the same as the time Jesus spent on the cross; the location of Marta's skin disease corresponds to the "stigmata" or wounds from the nails.

I can't recommend this film strongly enough. Every time I see it I am stunned by the beauty and meaning in every single frame.