Ingmar Bergman's Winter Light follows a pastor who begins to lose his faith in God after his wife dies. Much like Through a Glass Darkly, it examines religious doubt and God's silence during trying times. Except here we have a much more coherent message and powerful story that leaves you in breathless anticipation for its entire second half. What makes this movie so good is that the pastor's ultimate decision on whether to maintain his faith is entirely left up to the viewer. It can be interpreted either way, depending on the viewer's own beliefs. This is a difficult feat that Bergman has accomplished, and would be considered magical if the whole movie weren't so depressing. But depressing is what it is, which may turn some people away from this thought-provoking film.As I said before, this movie shares a lot with Bergman's earlier film. The dialogue is rich with depth and thematic meaning; he even reuses several quotes and images from his previous film to much greater effect. The cinematography is even crisper and more beautiful than before and the editing is vastly improved. The use of sound and silence is intelligently conceived and effectively carried out. The acting is underplayed the right amount and the characters and their relationships are complex without being incomprehensible. However, it may not appeal to people with little interest in religion or faith. And it can be a bit boring at times (although it is also relatively short, at 80 minutes). Regardless, this is a fascinating study of man's faith during times of apparent abandonment, and can be a potent discussion-starter if you ever find yourself in the mood to think about such topics.
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057358/