Media gallery for
Winter Light

Winter Light is among the few Bergman films shot during winter. Filming began on October 4th 1961.

Märta (Ingrid Thulin): ’I love you and I live for you. Take me and use me. Beneath all my false pride and idependent airs, I have only one wish: To be allowed to live for someone else. It will be terribly difficult. When I think the matter over, I can’t understand how it is to happen. Maybe it’s all a mistake. Dearest, say it’s not a mistake.’

Handwritten notes in Bergman's shooting script.

Bergman and others during the filming of Winter Light.

Bergman repeatedly thanked the eminent comedy actor Björnstrand (Thomas Ericsson) for opening the director’s eyes for the opportunities and pitfalls of comedy. Hence the actor’s part in Winter Light came as something of a shock for the Swedish film audience.

The interpretation of Märta (Ingrid Thulin) as a Christ figure, was refuted by Bergman.

During the shooting of Winter Light, the crew gave the film the apt nickname ’Snotty John and the Lip Balm’.

During the early stages of writing the script, Vilgot Sjöman, the film’s assistant director, was sceptical of ’yet another film about a clergyman broken down by doubt in his faith’.

Max von Sydow (Jonas Persson) had since playing Antonius Block in The Seventh Seal, become an established part of the Bergman’s actor ensamble.

Gunnar Björnstrand’s (Thomas Ericsson’s) health problems during the filming caused far-reaching controversies. Coinciding with the TV premier of Saraband 2003, Björnstrand’s daugther Gabrielle wrote an article in the newspaper Expressen under the heading ’Gabrielle Björnstrand on her father: Bergman psyched out his favorite actor’.

Bergman's handwritten script.

Workbook no 19 includes early notes on Winter Light and The Devil’s Eye.

The first page in the shooting script for Winter Light.

Page from the shooting script.

Shooting schedule for Winter Light.

Tomas Ericsson (Gunnar Björnstrand): ’ If there is no God, would it really make any difference? Life would become understandable. And this death would be a snuffing out of life. The dissolution of body and soul.’

Tomas Ericsson (Gunnar Björnstrand) and Jonas Persson (Max von Sydow). Winter Light gave rise to an intense theological debate, not least as several Swedish newspapers questioned priests about their impression of the film.

In Laterna Magica, Bergman recalls how the film’s end came to him during a church visit in the company of his father. Despite a platry attendance, Erik Bergman insisted that the service should be held. ’Thus it was that I discovered the ending to Winter Light and a rule I was to follow from then on: irrespective of everything that happens to you in life, you hold your communion.’

Winter Light was Sven Nykvist and Bergman’s fourth film together. Nykvist recalled the filming as extremely demanding: ’In terms of light, Winter Light is one of Ingmar’s most striking films, yet something few people think about when they are watching it. Plainness is more thankless than picturesque lightning. Nobody appreciates the work that lies behind it.’

Märta (Ingrid Thulin): ’God, why have you created me so eternally dissatisfied, frightened and so bitter? Why must I realize how wretched I am? Why must I suffer so hellishly for my insignificance?’

Swedish film program for Winter Light.

Page from Workbook no 19.

From Workbook no 19. "Conversation with God."

Page from the handwritten script of Winter Light.